THE OLUBADAN IS DEAD

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, died at the age of 101. He w was born on April 14, 1914, became the Olubadan in July 2007.

It was gathered that palace guards immediately summoned a son of the deceased, Prof. Femi Lana, who also informed some Ibadan high chiefs about his father’s demise. This, the palace source explained, might be done on Wednesday (today), adding that the Olubadan-in-Council or the family could formally announce the death after the condolence visit.

The source said, “The Olubadan is dead. He died peacefully in his sleep in his palace at Monatan and not in the hospital around 7.30pm today (Tuesday) due to old age. You know he celebrated his 100th birthday in April 2014; he would have clocked 102 this year. The palace chiefs invited his son, Prof. Femi Lana, who in turn, informed some high chiefs, including the Ashipa of Ibadanland, Chief Eddy Oyewole.”

Another high chief, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to comment officially on the matter due to tradition, said the monarch’s burial might not be immediate.

“His burial may not be immediate. He was not a Muslim but a strong member of the St. Peter Anglican Church, Aremo, and I’m sure that the church, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and the Olubadan-in-Council will participate in his burial,” the chief said.

With his demise, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Saliu Adetunji, is expected to be named as the new Olubadan by the Olubadan-in-Council.

Adetunji is one of the nine Ibadan high chiefs promoted about three weeks ago by the late monarch.

A soldier who fought in the World War II, Oba Odulana was a seasoned civil servant and a thoroughbred politician who later became a minister in the First Republic.

The late monarch began his elementary education at Saint Andrew’s School, Bamigbola, in the present Lagelu Local Government Area in January 1922 and obtained a transfer to St. Peter’s School, Aremo in 1929.

He completed his middle school education at Mapo Central School in December 1936.He equally strengthened his education via correspondence college.

He had a brief stint with the United Africa Company as a produce clerk before taking up teaching at the Church Missionary Society Elementary School, Jago, in the present Ona-ara Local Government Area, in 1938.

He also taught in several schools from 1939 to 1942.

He, however, quit teaching to pick the more challenging duty of a soldier during the 1939 World War II.