The 40th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Odulana Odugade I, is dead.

The paramount ruler of Ibadan, who ascended the throne on Friday, August 17, 2007 at the age of 93, reportedly breathed his last yesterday between 2:30pm and 3:00pm. He died 86 days to his 102nd birthday, which is April 14 and his remains have been deposited at the UCH mortuary.

A source within the Olubadan palace, who declined to be named, said that Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, would be informed officially about the monarch’s death today. “The governor will formally announce to sons and daughters of the city, the demise of the paramount ruler of Ibadanland,” the source said.

When contacted, the late Olubadan’s eldest son, Prof. Femi Lana, declined to confirm his father’s death. He simply said: “No comment.”

However, a high chief in the line of Olubadan, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.

It was gathered that the traditional ruler had been sick for sometime as a result of old age. His last public function attended by the monarch was on January 1, 2016, when he effected the promotion of nine Ibadan chiefs in Olubadan line. The promoted chiefs included Chief Saliu Adetunji, who is now the Olubadan-in-waiting; Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun; and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who is a former governor of the state.

Chief Adetunji is from the Military Line (Balogun) and he is to succeed Oba Odulana who was from the Civil Line (Otun).

Oba Odulana was born April 14, 1914, in Igbo Elerin, Ibadan, to Pa Odulana Ayinla.

He began his elementary education at Saint Andrew’s School, Bamigbola, Ibadan in January 1922 and transferred to St. Peter’s School, Aremo, in 1929.

He completed his middle school education at Mapo Central School in 1936.

He was an Army officer during the 1939 World War II. After returning from World War II in 1945, he was appointed to be in charge of the demobilisation of returning soldiers in Lagos. He briefly worked with United Africa Company (UAC) as a produce clerk before commencing his teaching career at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Elementary School, Jago, in 1938.

He also taught in several schools from 1939 to 1942 and was with the Colonial Office Education Department in 1964.

He went into politics in 1959 as a member of the House of Representatives and was appointed parliamentary secretary to Tafawa Balewa.

He was Minster of State for Labour and, in 1964, he led the Nigerian Parliamentary delegation to the London Constitution Conference to restructure the former British colonies of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia).

He joined the royal chieftaincy line in 1972 as the Mogaji of Ladunni compound in Ibadan, and in 1976, he was conferred Jagun-Olubadan.

He was a co-founder of several organisations such as the Ibadan Economic Foundation and the Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU).

He was conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Management Technology by the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, in December 2005.

When contacted, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said he had not been informed officially.

•Pieced together from reports in Daily Sun and Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows late Olubadan, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Odulana Odugade I.

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