A large gathering of mourners, Islamic and Christian clerics yesterday in Oyo offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III who joined his ancestors 10 days ago.
The ancient town shut down to pay its last respects to the departed traditional ruler.
In attendance were the family of the deceased and prominent Nigerians including the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who relived his last encounter with the late monarch a few weeks ago.
The major market in the town was shut as a mark of last respect for the late monarch.
Addressing the crowd, the first son of the late Oba, Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi, said the deceased left a legacy worthy of emulation.
The clerics, who included the chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Femi Akinyemi, urged politicians, traditional rulers to shun any practice that could incur the wrath of God.
Illustrating with Kings 20;1-3, he urged participants to keep off ungodly practices.
In his own sermon, Islamic cleric, Alhaji Sulaiman Onikijipa, urged people to do good at all times.
“Beware of the last day and what will be said after you,” he said
Recalling his last conversation with Oba Adeyemi, Tinubu said the late traditional ruler would be immortalised with the establishment of a training and skills development centre for youths in his honour.
“The late Alaafin of Oyo was an institution in Nigeria, not only in Yorubaland. He was a great man who was upright and honest,” Tinubu, who arrived in Nigeria yesterday morning from Saudi Arabia where he had gone to perform the lesser hajj, said.
Continuing, he said: “He was concerned about the unity and stability of Nigeria and particularly the enduring history of the Yoruba race.
“We had a lengthy discussion before his demise, not knowing that he had a few days left to spend on earth.
“He was very kind and made some remarks that the Yoruba race must not lag behind; that he would continue to pray for us who have the courage to be in politics, politics of development, politics of merit, politics of honesty and progress of our country.
“He wanted the best for us and was working with other traditional rulers to see that we, the Yoruba, were given our rightful place in Nigeria.
“He was a good man who associated with everybody be you Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba. Baba was very accommodating, very kind, very generous and very humorous.
“We will miss him dearly, but we respect the fact that God loves him more.”
Also speaking Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Commissioner Bayo Lawal said the new Alaafin woul emerge as soon as the process for his selection was completed.
Lawal who represented Governor Seyi Makinde asked the people to be patient with the government on the issue.
Oba Adeyemi died on April 22 at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.
Credit- Nation
