The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, has reportedly passed away at the age of 86. A palace source who craved anonymity died on Wednesday after a brief illness.
Though the Owa Obokun palace has not issued any official statement with regard to the monarch’s passing, sources within the palace confirmed the death of the popular monarch.
The source said, “Baba has passed, but we are waiting for an official announcement from the palace.
“You can see that they have started performing some traditional rites. This has to be done before any announcement can be made,” she added.
He was the 48th king of the ancient city, and succeeded Oba Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika who died in 1981.
Aromolaran ascended the throne on February 20, 1982. His reign spanned 42 years.
On Thursday, Yinka Fasuyi, Asiwaju of Ijesaland, announced the king’s passing after rumours of his ill health began circulating on social media.
In a tribute, Fasuyi extolled the reign of the king, describing him as the “pride of Yoruba traditional intellectualism.”
“A monumental history closes! The lion departs the forest! The torch bearer Of Oduduwa relocates! The symbol Of Obokun Adimula transits!,” the tribute reads.
“The elegance Of Ijesaland royalty takes a bow! The pride Of Yoruba traditional intellectualism exits! The conscience Of Yoruba traditional rulers departs!
“The Last Of the titans bids farewell! Ijesaland celebrates the life Of her idol! Ijesaland extolls the life Of our imperial majesty! Ijesaland eulogises the reign Of ur Owa Obokun Adimula! Ijesaland applauds the legacy Of our paramount ruler! 42 Years Of monumental reign comes to a glorious end!”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condoled with the people of Ijesa over the death of the king.
In a statement shared on his X page, Atiku described the late king as “a great monarch who personified boldness, courage, and discipline of the Ijesha progeny.”
“With a heavy heart, I received the news of the passing of the Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. The late Owa was more than a father-in-law to me. Each time I visited him, he accorded me the homecoming welcome of a son,” he wrote.
“We all loved him dearly. He was a great monarch and personified the boldness, courage, and discipline of the Ijesha progeny.
“On behalf of my wife, Titi, I share my condolences with the Owa-in-Council and the entire indigenes and residents of Ijesha land, especially members of the royal family.
“As Oba Aromolaran turns his face to his Maker, I pray that his soul finds a gentle repose.”
Aromolaran was born in October 13, 1937 into the royal household of Oba Iluyomade Aromolaran I.
He started his primary school education at Otapete Methodist school, Ilesa and finally completed his primary education at the Agbeni Methodist school Oke Ado Ibadan.
Aromolaran attended Ilesa Grammar School, between 1970 and 1974 before attending the then University College Ibadan (UCI) which was then a College of the University of London (now the University of Ibadan) where he obtained the B.Sc. degree in economics.
In 1965, he did a post-graduate diploma in public administration of the University of Ife, then located at Ibadan, and also holds a master’s degree in mathematical economics.
He earned his PhD in development economics under the supervision of Prof Samson Olajuwon Kokumo Olayide, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
