Chairman, Ibadan Royalty Committee, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, mni, has described the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, as a man of enviable character who left behind a legacy of honesty and bravery worthy of being proud of by the children and members of family.
Afolabi, a former Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), said this when he led representatives of the Committee on a condolence visit to the Alalubosa GRA, Ibadan residence of the late Olubadan.
The academic/technocrat described himself as another child of the late traditional not known to so many people, saying he had robust and deep interactions with the late Oba Olakulehin which gave him an insight into the kind of person he was.
The chairman, Ibadan Royalty Committee, urged the children and the family members to uphold and be proud of the legacy left behind by their patriarch.
He maintained that those virtues are rare and advised that those with the grace of possessing such should be acknowledged and celebrated.
Afolabi disclosed that the Committee he chairs could be described as ‘power behind the throne’ with a lot of activities being carried out for the progress and the advancement of the Ibadan Throne without noise or publicity.
He made it known that, as an open Committee, its membership is not closed but open to as many Ibadan sons and daughters worthy and ready to make contributions towards achieving the goals and aspirations of a formidable royalty for Ibadanland.
Speaking earlier, two other members of the delegate, the Ajiroba of Ibadanland, Professor Soji Adejumo and Senator Kola Balogun, separately, briefed the family members in attendance about the activities of the Ibadan Royalty Committee as well as the peaceful reign of the late Olubadan.
In his brief remark, Professor Adejumo disclosed that the Ibadan Royalty Committee had done a lot of underneath work to promote the Ibadan throne.
He noted that the globally-acknowledged unique ascension system of the Olubadan Throne made it compelling for the throne to be seriously honoured and catered for.
The focus of the Ibadan Royalty Committee, he said, “is to ensure that the Ibadan Throne is formidable and self-reliant without waiting for government.
“Agreed, the government has its roles to play in the traditional system, but as the owner of the throne ourselves, the desire of the Committee is to get genuinely committed in its well- being.”
As part of the activities of the Ibadan Royalty Committee, Adejumo said, everybody that had enjoyed the benevolence of Ibadan aside their respective careers, seeds of which were mostly sowed in Ibadan, but who had received Ibadan traditional titles must not forget the ancient metropolis.
He said that particular task took him to the late Oba Olakulehin among others when he became Ajiroba of Ibadanland on behalf of the Committee, recalling that it was a task well embraced by the late traditional ruler.
The university don noted that the Ibadan Royalty Committee had also shown interest in ensuring that there should be a kind of link chain in the royal houses.
He explained that “the idea is to ensure that there is an established relationship among the occupiers of the Ibadan Throne, dead or alive.
“The idea of the past occupiers of the throne being consigned to the dustbin of history is not good enough. We want continuity in the system and God will help us.”
Senator Balogun, in his own remarks, disclosed that the Committee was the brain-child of his late brother and the predecessor to the late Oba Olakulehin, Oba Dr. Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
The former federal lawmaker in the ninth National Assembly said the purpose was to be playing the behind-the-scene role for the throne.
He recalled that the first assignment of the Committee was the resuscitation of the new Ibadan Palace which was then an abandoned project and which he also said was coincidentally in sync with one of his legacy projects, then as a senator.
“As a senator, I have been working on how to put money in the budget for the palaces in my senatorial district as part of my legacy projects.
“So, when the Committee came on board, the Ibadan Palace Project became a focus and above ₦300 million out of which ₦10 million came from the singular purse of Chief Tunde Afolabi, the Parakoyi of Ibadanland and the elder brother to our chairman, Professor Afolabi.
“The magnificent gate standing today at the entrance of the palace is part of the efforts being talked about.
“It is gratifying to note that our efforts gingered the state government and I will continue to mention a great daughter of the soil, Ms Bunmi Amoo (the daughter of Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Amoo), for her commitment to the palace project.
“When I was making my own efforts before the coming on board of the Committee, they were not because of the thought of my brother occupying it, which eventually he did not but for Ibadanland and one is happy today for those efforts and those of the Committee”, he stated further.
Senator Balogun praised the late Oba Olakulehin for being a man with good heart and somebody that rejoiced in the goodness of others which he said eventually paved the way for his emergence as the 43rd Olubadan.
“I can say it with full chest that our late baba never wished his predecessor, my brother, to die before him, being younger to him by about nine years.
“Oba Olakulehin gave total and absolute support to his brother and predecessor as the Prime Minister of the Palace.
“Even right from the level of nomination of my brother here in this particular hall, Oba Olakulehin displayed a great sense of loyalty by asking me to ask my brother to be present at the meeting which was novel then.
“When I asked why, our baba said it was to shut up any form of opposition from any quarters because it would be difficult for any opposing view to be canvassed in the presence of the main character, his predecessor.
“This is much more so when it is not forbidden traditionally for the Olubadan-designate to be at such meeting. The rest, as they say, is now history,” Senator Balogun added.
Responding on behalf of the family, Alhaji Rahman Alabi thanked the Ibadan Royalty Committee for the visit, just as he appreciated the delegates for all the good things said about their late patriarch.
He was also full of appreciation for the great works being done behind the scene by the Committee, but called for openess for members of public to know what they are doing.
Alhaji Alabi used the occasion to call the attention of Committee to the identified faults in the new palace urging it to ask questions where necessary to ensure that the huge amount of money committed into the project does not go into the drain.
The Olakulehin Family representative also expressed happiness that the legacy of honesty and integrity left behind by their patriarch was acknowledged by the Committee, stressing that the family would continually strive to ensure that the legacy is upheld at all times.
