The Oyo State Government has announced burial plans for the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, who died on Tuesday at the age of 101.

During the visit of the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi to the Monatan palace of the late monarch on Friday, he said a burial committee that would include the family of the late Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council would be constituted and that burial ceremony would begin on February 6.



Ajimobi was received into the palace by the Olubadan-in-Council, widow of the late Oba, Olori Morike Odulana, his first son, Prof. Femi Lana and some Ibadan elders.

The governor restated that the late king, who ascended the throne in 2007, would be given a befitting state burial. He added that the ceremony would end on February 12 when the remains of the late Olubadan would be committed to mother earth.

While paying tribute to the late king, the governor said he contributed immensely to his emergence as the state governor and that he would be remembered for his love and passion for Ibadan as well as his glowing legacy. He also described the late monarch as a patriot, who had contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria, urging those in position of authority to emulate the lifestyle of the late Oba Odulana.

He said, “He was a good father to all of us. We are happy and sad at the same time. We are happy that he grew old and lived a fruitful life. Olubadan was a disciplinarian and was orderly in his endeavours. He was elegant and he had integrity. Oba Odulana was very predictable and I wish he will be the type we will be having on this throne.


“He had a mind and heart of assessing people’s credibility. On behalf of the government and good people of Oyo State, we are here to commiserate with you all. Olubadan was an accomplished human being by all standards. Even if it’s about his age, he was fulfilled and contented with all he had. He was an epitome of patriotism, who was passionate about the progress of Ibadan,” the governor added.

Ajimobi said the Presidency and all state governors in Nigeria would be informed of the burial arrangement.

The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who responded on behalf of the late Olubadan’s family and the Olubadan-in-Council, thanked the governor for his visit and decision to give the late king a befitting state burial.

He said, “We are extremely happy for honouring Olubadan. We are proud to have you as our governor and Kabiyesi will have no regret supporting you to be governor.

“It was the media that broke the news of Olubadan’s death, especially on the social media without following protocol. We welcome the expression for your commitment for his burial and we shall also support the state government,” he added.

Beautiful 25 year old Doyin Sarah Fagbenro who recently completed her First and Second degrees in Law in the UK and relocated to Nigeria after spending most of her life there, died in a fatal accident along Lekki-Epe expressway in Lagos which was caused by a reckless Danfo driver.

Her cousin, Ken Davidson, took to his Facebook page to pay her a heartfelt tribute. It's such a sad read. Read after the cut. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.



DSF: Tribute To A Shining Starlet. Oh death! Where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Another Casualty of a broken and failed State. Your story is particularly Gut Wrenching as it is equally heartbreaking.

You spent near enough all but two of your 25 years on earth in the Country of your Birth, the United Kingdom where your Parents and entire family reside. You were born, bred and educated in the United Kingdom. But two years ago, immediately after you graduated, you elected to visit Nigeria where your Grandparents reside - both of whom are in their Mid Eighties.

You signed up for the National Youth Service having freshly graduated with a sterling First Degree in Law and a Post Grad immediately afterwards. You were headhunted by an Energy Firm before you completed your NYSC and a presto you gallantly announced to your Nervous Parents - Dad a Diplomat with the United Nations based in Italy and Mum a Pharmacist based in the United Kingdom, your country of Birth - that you were going to permanently relocate and make Nigeria your permanent abode. Your Grandparents were ecstatic, you being their most favourite Grand Daughter.

You were a straight A student right from when you passed your GCSEs through to when you excelled in your A'levels...so much so that Prestigious Queen Mary's London University snapped you to study Law. You missed a First by whisker's. Nevertheless you made your mark all the way through. Then it all came crashing down.

What was supposed to be a routine journey to Church on a relatively sombre, otherwise uneventful Sunday morning on the Lekki/Ajah Expressway around the Lekki Phase 1 approach turned into a living and eternal nightmare for those of us left struggling to pick up the pieces. Our lives changed forever, never to be the same again.

A victim of the reckless and probably high on drinks/drugs 'Danfo' Driver. The most galling of the entire episode was the fact that the driver of that Danfo survived unscathed, RAN away from the scene leaving a trail of Death and Destruction in his wake. Four people died at the scene. Your New Toyota Corolla was a crumpled wreck. But the Fighter that you were, despite massive injuries, you fought and fought and fought.

Your Dad, via his status at the United Nations, got you into Lagoon Hospital where you were for a few days. When it became clear that the extent of your injuries was too severe for the local facilities here in Nigeria, An Air Ambulance was scrambled from the United Kingdom to get you much needed Specialist Care in the United Kingdom. Your tireless mum who flew in from the United Kingdom, barely 48 hours after the accident, accompanied you in the Air Ambulance. Still we Prayed and Prayed and Hoped for the Best.

Sadly We lost you a day after you arrived in the United Kingdom. The Surgeons tried desperately. You fought desperately to hang on. But in the end, it was not to be. The pain is palpably raw as it is numbling. We asked again and again, Why you? Why You? If only you had stayed on in the country of your Birth, If only...so many questions but very few answers. Your Parents, Your Grandparents, Oh! Your Grandma, with whom you celebrated her 80th Birthday over here in Nigeria a few years ago has refused to eat since she was informed of your passing nearly a week ago...All she repeatedly does is wail, wail to space "God Take Me instead, Give My Granddaughter back to Nigeria. Nigeria Needs Her, Her Parents Need her. God Take me. God Take Me.".

These are indeed extremely perilous times. And so it was that having just spent barely a few weeks in Nigeria after a prolonged Winter holiday and Christmas in the United Kingdom with family and friends, I now find myself in the rather unenviable position of scrambling for the next flight out back to the United Kingdom just so that I can attend your Funeral this weekend. Someone retorted to me "Oh, you know, 'our tradition' forbids older relatives attending and being present at funerals where the deceased is much younger than us..." I snapped back, which tradition? And what has tradition ever done for us? What did Tradition ever give to HER?

I am here like a Zombie, mechanically and circuitously packing a few items for my flight out in the morning. The Family has decided that yours would be a Celebratory Sending Forth, so RED rather than the traditional Grey, Black would be the colour to be worn on the Day. DSF as you were very fondly called, you touched so many lives in the quarter century, (twenty five years only!) you ran your race on earth.

You were considerate to the end so much so that you waited until you got back home - nearer your parents and many siblings - before you finally bade the World Farewell. Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, My Learned Friend in the Profession, My lil Sister, My Cousin, Sleep Well till we meet again. O Death! Where is Thy Sting!

(Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, 1990 - 2016)

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, is dead, sources said last night.

The monarch was 101. He would have been 102 in April.

The Olubadan lost consciousness before he eventually passed on, it was gathered.



Details about Oba Odulana’s death were sketchy but he had been indisposed for some time on account of old age.

One of his sons, Prof. Femi Lana, declined comment last night. Some Ibadan chiefs contacted also kept sealed lips but sources close to the family said the body of the late monarch had been taken to a morgue.

The personal assistant to the late monarch, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, denied that the monarch had passed on. He said it was a rumour, adding that Oba Odulana ate yesterday.

His death will throw the city into mourning after the brouhaha that followed the promotion of nine high chiefs on January 1. The action pitted the Olubadan-In-Council against the state government.

Oba Odulana mounted the throne in 2007 as the 39th Olubadan. He was the 17th Olubadan since the title was elevated from Baale Ibadan to the Olubadan in 1930.

The first traditional ruler to bear the new title was Oba Okunola Abass who reigned between 1930 and 1946.

Next in line to the throne is the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji.

He ascended the throne following the demise of Oba Yunusa Ogundipe Arapasowu I, who ruled from 1999 to 2007.

The late Olubadan hailed from the Ladunni Compound in Oja Igbo within the Ibadan metropolis. He was born at Igbo-Elerin, Lagelu Local Government Area on April 14, 1914, to Pa Odulana Ayinla.

He began his elementary education at Saint Andrew’s School, Bamigbola, in Lagelu Local Government Area in January, 1922 before obtaining a transfer to Saint Peter’s School, Aremo in 1929.

In December 1936, the late monarch completed his middle school education at Mapo Central School. He developed his education through correspondence courses.

He had a stint with the United African Company (UAC) as a produce clerk, before taking up a teaching appointment at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Elementary School, Jago, Ona-Ara Local Government Area in 1938.

Oba Odugade I also taught in several schools between 1939 and 1942.

However, the late monarch willingly vacated the teaching job for a more challenging duty as an Army officer during the 1939 Second World War.

After the end of the war in 1945, he was saddled with the responsibility to demobilise returning soldiers in Lagos, a role which earned him an exemplary character award of the Army 4th Brigade.

He was subsequently appointed to man the Colonial Office Education Department in 1946.

He voluntarily retired from the civil service to embrace politics. The late Oba Odugade I aided the establishment of both primary and secondary schools in various parts of the old Western Region.

In the 1959 pre-independence federal elections, he contested to represent his constituency as a member of the House of Representatives.

His political career ended with Nigeria’s first military coup on January 15, 1966 after which he went into philanthropy and community mobilisation.

The late Oba graced the Ibadan socio-cultural landscape with so much fanfare. For instance, he was a co-founder of prime organisations, including Ibadan Economic Foundation and the Ibadan Progressive Union, among others.

Alhaji Yamusa Shuaibi, the Chairman of APC in Adamawa State, died yesterday after a brief illness. Late Yamusa was buried according to Islamic injunction at his home town Numan Local government area of Adamawa state. Adamawa state Governor, Sen Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow and other state officials attended the funeral prayer. May his soul rest in peace. More photos after the cut...

A former minister of education Olaiya Oni has died at the age of 72. He died today at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo state after an undisclosed ailment. Family sources say his body has been deposited at the morgue while preparation for his burial is ongoing. May his soul rest in peace Amen.

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, on Friday lost three lecturers in a car accident on the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
The professors Samuel Kafewo, Nana Aisha Ali and Dr Martins Ayegba, all from the University’s Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, were on their way to Zaria from Abuja when their car was involved in the accident.
Professor Jenkeri Zakari Okwori is said to be critically injured.
THE SUN