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Pallbearers carrying remains of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, out of the St. Peter’s Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan, on Friday.

Buhari, governors, ministers, others bid Olubadan farewell
 
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Sat, 13 Feb 2016   ||   Nigeria,
 

President Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed that the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, left a great and enduring legacy for the unborn generation of Ibadan indigenes and Nigerians.

The President, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said this at the burial service for Oba Odulana held at St Peters Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan, on Friday.

The vice president, who came through the Alakia airport touched down at the church around 11.30am, was accompanied by the host governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Special Adviser to President Buhari of Politics, Senator Femi Ojudu.

The Presidents's representative was joined by the Ministers of Health and his Communitions counterpart; Professor Isaac Adewole and Adebayo Shittu, three state governors; Akinwumi Ambode, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Rauf Aregbesola of Lagos, Ogun and Osun states respectively, and the deputy governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, to bid farewell to the 40th Olubadan.

Others are former governors of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon (retd), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and his wife, Olukemi, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja, former Inspector General of Police, Musiliu Smith, Emeritus Professor Olu Akinkugbe, Chief Kola Daisi, Chief Adebayo Akande, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, Honourable Saheed Fijabi, Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli, Ricjard Ogunwole, SAN, among others.

In his address, Professor Yemi 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.

His words, "People from the whole of this nation, not just Ibadan is 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 for ever and that his children and all that have one thing or the other benefit from this incredibly legacy he has left," Osinbajo said.

In his message, the Diocesan/Archbishop of Ibadan, The most Reverend Segun Okubadejo, in his sermon which centred on people's life and death, called on President Buhari to name looters in this country to shame them.

Describing Oba Odulana "a king that knows aGod and serve him", saying he died after serving his generation. He said as Christians, there are two types of death; physical and everlasting death, noting that the first death is compulsory, inescapable "since God mandated it after Man was sent out of the garden of Eden." he said 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, show love to their neighbours, shun bribe. He admonished the congregation not to waster time in this regard because time is already ticking.

"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 heard?

"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 the 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.

"We beg President Buhari to name the looters so that they will be put to shame from this world," Okubadejo said.

In his welcome address, Oyo State 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 ‎live of the 40th Olubadan.

Before the service, the remains of Oba Odulana was 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 Ibadan were closed on Friday 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.

Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I whose remains was interred in a masoleum at the family's private compound at Igbo-Elerin community, according to his will, was born on April 14, 1914 and died on January 19, 2016.

Other dignitaries that attended the burial ceremony include Senator Soji Akanbi, Honourable Akeem Ige, Akin Olujimi, SAN, Prophet M.O. Olowere of the CAC, Oke-Agbara, Ibadan, among others.

 

 

 

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