Chief Imam of Oyo State, Masud Ajokidero (middle) leading a funeral prayer for the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemir during the burial of the Alaafin at his palace in Oyo town... on Saturday. Photo: NAN
Eminent Nigerians, including the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; state governors and monarchs from different parts of the country, on Saturday, paid tribute to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who died on Friday at the Afe Babalola University, Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, after a brief illness.
Oba Adeyemi, 83, reigned for 52 years, making him the long-serving Alaafin.
The monarch’s remains were brought back to the palace in Oyo on Saturday, where the corpse was kept while traditionalists started performing rites of passage.
Thousands of Oyo indigenes, who were shocked to hear the news of the demise of the revered monarch, thronged the palace to confirm it.
Armed policemen were deployed in the palace and Amotekun corps operatives were allowed inside the second inner part, where only a few people were given access to.
The building, where the body of monarch was kept, was locked, while some palace guards were seen manning the entrance.
Scores of okada riders, who were not allowed to go inside the palace, stayed back at the front, while some were seen at the other side of the road.
Dozens of residents who were hanging around rushed inside when the gates leading to the inner courtyard were opened for one of the palace vehicles to drive in.
Sango adherents, dressed in red attire, were present in front of the building where the body of the late monarch was kept.
They left when Islamic clerics came to pray on the body, which was in a casket.
Night burial
The Chief Imam of Oyo, Alhaji Moshood Ajokideru, led other Islamic clerics to pray on the remains of Oba Adeyemi.
The prayer session lasted only three minutes after which the casket was taken back inside the palace, awaiting the final burial, which the Basorun of Oyo, who is the Head of the Oyo Mesi, High Chief, Yusuf Ayoola, announced would take place around 9pm.
The monarch was buried in a vault, Bara, reserved for Alaafins, around 10pm.
Oba Adeyemi’s last moments
Basorun, while addressing journalists, said the monarch was admitted for malaria at the Afe Babalola University, Teaching Hospital.
He said, “He (Oba Adeyemi) loved Chief Afe Babalola so much and he always received treatment in his hospital in Ekiti. He was receiving treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti, but on Thursday, we were told that he was very h fine and would be discharged soon.
“On Friday morning, he took watermelon and said he wanted to go back home. He directed his wives to prepare because they would be leaving the hospital soon.
“The wives went to meet the doctors secretly, asking that he should not be discharged yet, but should be allowed to rest till today (Saturday) and then leave the hospital. But unfortunately, the sickness relapsed and he gave up the ghost.”
Balogun stated that “the firstborn of Oba Lamidi has informed Governor Seyi Makinde but we need to back it up with documentation, which will be signed by the family and I.”
“We should pray to God to help us to appoint a new Alaafin for Oyo people. God will be with us,” he added.
Eminent Nigerians, including the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; state governors and monarchs from different parts of the country, on Saturday, paid tribute to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who died on Friday at the Afe Babalola University, Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, after a brief illness.
Oba Adeyemi, 83, reigned for 52 years, making him the long-serving Alaafin.
The monarch’s remains were brought back to the palace in Oyo on Saturday, where the corpse was kept while traditionalists started performing rites of passage.
Thousands of Oyo indigenes, who were shocked to hear the news of the demise of the revered monarch, thronged the palace to confirm it.
Armed policemen were deployed in the palace and Amotekun corps operatives were allowed inside the second inner part, where only a few people were given access to.
The building, where the body of monarch was kept, was locked, while some palace guards were seen manning the entrance.
Scores of okada riders, who were not allowed to go inside the palace, stayed back at the front, while some were seen at the other side of the road.
Dozens of residents who were hanging around rushed inside when the gates leading to the inner courtyard were opened for one of the palace vehicles to drive in.
Sango adherents, dressed in red attire, were present in front of the building where the body of the late monarch was kept.
They left when Islamic clerics came to pray on the body, which was in a casket.
Night burial
The Chief Imam of Oyo, Alhaji Moshood Ajokideru, led other Islamic clerics to pray on the remains of Oba Adeyemi.
The prayer session lasted only three minutes after which the casket was taken back inside the palace, awaiting the final burial, which the Basorun of Oyo, who is the Head of the Oyo Mesi, High Chief, Yusuf Ayoola, announced would take place around 9pm.
The monarch was buried in a vault, Bara, reserved for Alaafins, around 10pm.
Oba Adeyemi’s last moments
Basorun, while addressing journalists, said the monarch was admitted for malaria at the Afe Babalola University, Teaching Hospital.
He said, “He (Oba Adeyemi) loved Chief Afe Babalola so much and he always received treatment in his hospital in Ekiti. He was receiving treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti, but on Thursday, we were told that he was very h fine and would be discharged soon.
“On Friday morning, he took watermelon and said he wanted to go back home. He directed his wives to prepare because they would be leaving the hospital soon.
“The wives went to meet the doctors secretly, asking that he should not be discharged yet, but should be allowed to rest till today (Saturday) and then leave the hospital. But unfortunately, the sickness relapsed and he gave up the ghost.”
Balogun stated that “the firstborn of Oba Lamidi has informed Governor Seyi Makinde but we need to back it up with documentation, which will be signed by the family and I.”
“We should pray to God to help us to appoint a new Alaafin for Oyo people. God will be with us,” he added.
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