L R. Vice President Prof.Yemi Osibajo,Oyo State Governor Sen.Abiola Ajimobi his Wife Florence,Widow Olori Moriyike Lana and Lagos State Governor Mr.Akinwumi Ambode at the Funeral Service of Late Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade held at Cathedral of St Peter Aremo Ibadan, Photo: FELIX ADEMOLA
- Buhari: He was an honest and God-fearing man
Ademola Babalola in Ibadan
The remains of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade were interred yesterday in a mausoleum at the family's private compound in Igbo-Elerin community, Lagelu Local Government Area of the state amidst encomiums.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, described the late monarch as an honest and God-fearing man who lived his life in the service of his fatherland.
“The late traditional ruler left a great and enduring legacy for the unborn generation of Ibadan indigenes and Nigerians as a whole,” declared the president.
The Diocesan/Archbishop of Ibadan, The most Reverend Segun Okubadejo, in his sermon which centred on people's life and death, described late Odulana "a king that knows God and served him."
Okubadejo said: “He (Odulana) died after serving his generation. As Christians, there are two types of death; physical and everlasting death. The first death is compulsory, inescapable since God mandated it after Man was sent out of the Garden of Eden. The second death is an everlasting death, which every man must ensure he escapes."
He said in order not to die again, people must be ready to leave their misdeeds, shun corruption and show love to their neighbours.
He admonished the congregation not to waste time in this regard because “time is already ticking.”
He asked rhetorically: “Let us take our example from Oba Odulana. Are you using your character to build your house in heaven? Are you ready to change your ways with the word of God heard so far?
"Brethren, many people here are living as if they won't die again. The way we amass wealth does not show that we think of the first death not to talk of the second death. The end of every man is death.
"Brethren, I am afraid for these set of Nigerians so that they will not be part of the second death. When I learnt that a woman was involved in a $1million fraud, I asked myself, these set of people never mind the first or second death. Let us try to lay our treasure to God, so that we can have the wealth with him at the end.
Okubadejo also called on President Buhari to name looters of the nation's patrimony for generations yet unborn to know.
"We beg President Buhari to name the looters so that they will be put to shame from this world," Okubadejo stressed.
In his address, Professor Osinbajo who rendered a song "Ope lo ye O" before his speech, said Nigerians must learn to live a 'stainless' life without any blemish and save a better future for the Nigerian child.
He said: “People from the whole of this nation, not just Ibadan are proud to have a monarch such as late Olubadan. We're proud to have such a person and he showed us all that it's possible to live with forthrightness, even in this land, to live with honesty.
"It is possible to live without soiling our hands because at the end of the day and of our time, we must be in a position to be celebrated in the way that we celebrate Baba the Olubadan today.
"We should leave to our children and grandchildren a great legacy and a great nation. I think Baba has left for us great legacy indeed. And we're exceedingly proud of it and we pray that Almighty God will enable his name to live in our midst forever.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi acknowledged the role played by the late monarch in nominating him as the APC governorship candidate and predicting his second term victory.
He noted that death was a final reawakening for the peaceful and eventful, untainted life of Oba Odulana.
The remains of Oba Odulana were driven to church on a hearse around 10.30am in company of his children and grandchildren with a white Lincol Navigator Jeep.
As the corpse was carried into church premises, traditional drummers, royal bugle and gong players were on their toes to welcome Oba Odulana to St Peter Cathedral, Aremo, for the last time.
All major markets in the city were closed in honour of Oba Odulana.
The three hours service was laden with music rendition and eulogies from the choir of the church, choir from the University of Ibadan, students of Igbo-Elerin Grammar School while members of Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU), CCII and old students of Igbo-Elerin Grammar School, eulogised the late traditional ruler.
Three state governors - Akinwumi Ambode, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Rauf Aregbesola of Lagos, Ogun and Osun states respectively, joined governor Ajimobi to bid farewell to the 40th monarch of Ibadan.
Others at the service and reception held at the Recreation Centre, Mokola were the Special Adviser to President on Political Matters, Senator Femi Ojudu; former governors of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon; former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith; Emeritus Professor Olu Akinkugbe and Chief Kola Daisi among others.
The late Olubadan was born on April 14, 1914 and died on January 19, 2016.
Oba Odulana died at the age of 101. He became the monarch of the ancient city at the age of 93 in 2007 and reigned for barely nine years on the throne of his forebears.
The burial service for the interment was held at the Cathedral of St. Peters, Aremo, Ibadan North East Local Government
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