After about 42 years on the throne of his forefathers, the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, has joined his ancestors.
The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland died at a hospital in the state on Wednesday after a brief illness.
Traditional rulers in Ijesaland, Osun State confirmed the passing of the paramount ruler at a meeting held at the Owaโs palace in Ilesa on Thursday evening.
The Obas who cut across Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Oriade and Obokun Local Government Areas of the state wore mournful looks, when they gathered at the palace.
The monarchs said the demise of Oba Aromolaran is a mixture of sadness and happiness because Oba Aromolaran left enduring legacies and would be missed for the developmental projects he facilitated in Ijesaland.
The meeting of the Obas which was streamed live on Facebook from the palace showed the Ijesa monarchs and one of the biological children of the deceased monarch, Prince Adebiyi Aromolaran in attendance.
One of the Obas, while announcing the passage of Oba Aromolaran, at the meeting monitored by The Point said the burial rites of the deceased would commence โsoon.โ
To honour the departed soul, he announced that there would be curfew for seven days in Ijesaland while markets would be shut down for three days starting from Thursday night.
He said, โWe want to announce that our Kabiyesi, his Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, has joined his ancestors. Kabiyesi was a great king who left great legacies and memories.
โFor this, we are declaring a curfew for seven days. This curfew will start at 10pm today (Thursday) while all markets in Ijesaland will be closed for three days starting from tomorrow, Friday, in honour of our great King. This curfew will start by 10pm and end at 6am for the seven days.
โWe want to urge our people in Ijesaland to comply with this directive as we make necessary planning for the funeral rites proper soon,โ the Ijesa monarch said in Yoruba.
Meanwhile, the palace has been deserted since the news of the death filtered to the public as security personnel were deployed to the palace environment.
Also, political figures and notable stakeholders across the country have mourned the passage of the octogenarian King.
President Bola Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the transition of the highly revered first-class monarch who served as chairman of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on behalf of the Federal Government, President Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Osun State, the good people of Ijesaland, and the family of the late traditional ruler.
The President affirmed that the departed monarch firmly believed in the values of Yoruba culture and African tradition.
His respect for these values and systems defined his remarkable 42-year reign on the throne of his ancestors.
Tinubu paid tribute to the departed monarch, expressing his deep admiration for Oba Aromolaranโs unwavering support, optimism, and commitment to Nigeriaโs justice, unity, and prosperity.
โHis dedication to these noble causes inspired us all,โ Tinubu said.
He further noted that the late Oba Aromolaran will be long remembered for his useful educational contributions through his many books and publications, his advocacy for what is right and fair, and his protection of the vulnerable from exploitation.
Tinubu prayed that โGod Almighty will grant Kabiyesiโs soul eternal rest and comfort to all who mourn the passage of this great leader.โ
In the same vein, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, joined other Nigerians in mourning the passing of Oba Aromolaran.
Obasanjo, in a condolence message, commiserated with the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the entire people of Ijesaland, describing the monarch as a patriot and a custodian of cultural and traditional values.
The condolence letter was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.
Obasanjo said the late Oba Aromolaran brought his salutary influence to advocate for peace, understanding, and development in Ijesaland and the entire Osun State.
He added, โHis wise counsel, inspiring leadership, and consistently dependable support will be greatly missed. His formidable contributions to the development of his community, the state, and the country will remain indelible in the memory of all who had the privilege to know him.
โIt is a measure of his selfless and qualitative service to our dear country that he was honoured with the revered national award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
โThe late Oba also made an indelible mark and epitomised the qualities of an eminent scholar who excelled in all intellectual pursuits relevant to the award of a doctorate degree in Development Economics.โ
The former President noted that his pen never lost its power and โhis proclivity for writing never waned since his ascension to the throne as Owa-Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.
โHe was a renowned author and publisher of many books for use in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions both in Nigeria and overseas, and he contributed to national and international journals, making a great success of publishing with the Aromolaran Publishers.
โAlthough Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaranโs passing feels like a dream, especially as he left us at a crucial time in our nationโs history when his wise counsel and rich experience are greatly needed.โ
Obasanjo urged the chiefs of Ijesaland, the people of Osun State, and all the members of his immediate and extended family to find solace in his legacy and the mark he left on the history of the country.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed his deep sorrow over the traditional rulerโs demise.
For Atiku, the late monarchโs fatherly warmth was more than just a father-in-law but a symbol of courage, boldness, and discipline emblematic of the Ijesa people.
The former Vice President made this known in a statement he shared on his X page on Thursday.
โWith a heavy heart, I received the news of the passing of the Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran.
โThe 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. We all loved him dearly.
โHe was a great monarch and personified the boldness, courage, and discipline of the Ijesha progeny.
โOn 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.
โAs Oba Aromolaran turns his face to his maker, I pray that his soul finds a gentle repose,โ Atiku, whose wife, Titi, hails from Ilesa, wrote.
Similarly, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and other prominent figures have been thrown into mourning following the monarchโs demise.
The governor expressed his heartfelt condolences over the demise of Oba Aromolaran.
In a statement issued in Osogbo by Adelekeโs spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the late monarch as a โfather figure, a pillar of support, and a teacherโ who was deeply committed to the development of Ijesaland and Osun State.
While expressing sadness at the demise of the traditional ruler, Governor Adeleke acknowledged the late Obaโs unwavering support for his administration, even in challenging times, and appreciated his constant communication on matters of development in Ijesaland and the state at large.
โKabiyesi was a deeply selfless father, who took no prisoners when it came to matters of development and wellbeing of the people. He was a friend of good governance, no matter the colour or race.
โThe last time I was with him was the flag off of the dualisation of Brewery โ Palace road. I am glad our late erudite scholar witnessed a new phase of development for Ijeshaland,โ the statement quoted the governor as saying.
Governor Adeleke condoled with the people of Ijesaland, the Aromolaran royal family, and the entire traditional institution in Osun State, saying, โWe will miss him dearly, but his impact on our lives and the development of Osun State will never be forgotten.โ
โOn behalf of the government and people of Osun State, I condole with the industrious people of ijesa, the Owa Obokun traditional Council, the immediate family and all of us, who are definitely affected by the exit of Kabiyesi, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran,โ he said.
A prominent traditional chief in Ilesa, the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Olayinka Fasuyi, paid tributes to the late frontline traditional ruler, saying โa monumental history closes.โ
Other indigenes of the ancient town and the Ijesa land in general, have taken to social media to mourn the monarchโs demise and sympathised with the royal family.
As a traditional ruler, Oba Aromolaran kept his palace above the fray of partisan politics. He was open to all political tendencies.
The monarch had recently been waging war against traders who exploit people of Ijesa through fraudulent measurements and those who inflate the prices of their goods outrageously.
The monarch also banned market union associations from fixing and forcing prices of goods on market women and other traders in Ijesaland as a way of making lives easy for his subjects amid the economic hardship ravaging the country.
Brief biography of Oba Aromolaran
Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, PhD, CFR, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland and paramount ruler of Ijesaland was born on October 13, 1937.
He was a writer, teacher and publisher of about 100 books, most of which were the official titles of the WAEC, for its O and A levels examinations.
Oba Aromolaran ascended the throne in 1982 by succeeding Oba Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika II (1912-1982).
The monarch was the first Nigerian Oba to hold a PhD (Economics). His first book, Economics for West Africa was published in 1966, a collaborative effort with his friends, Alabi Ogun and Areoye Oyebola.
Owa Aromolaran left the old Oyo State civil service as a Permanent Secretary to become a full time publisher on December 1, 1971 and established the Aromolaran Publishing Limited, a firm he ran till he ascended the throne in 1982.
His pen never lost its power and his proclivity of writing did not wane until his transition. Even as paramount ruler of the Ijesas, Oba Aromolaran, Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Yola, wrote and published 14 educational books since ascending the throne.
