The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, on Monday, has described the lying-in-state of the late Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, as way of giving Ibadan people an opportunity to “show to the world the appreciation of the man, who had ruled us in Ibadanland.”
High Chief Balogun made this comment, following the unprecedented lying-in-state organised in honour of the late Oba in Igbo-Elerin community, his family compound, in Oja’gbo, Ibadan, where his remains was laid in a transparent glass casket before the public.
According to Chief Balogun, the show was to express dynamism, socio-economic and political relevance of the late traditional ruler.
He said “the concept behind lying-in-state of Oba Odulana is to show to the world the appreciation of the man who ruled us in Ibadanland. Oba Odulana was a man of many parts, not only in Ibadan, Oyo State and indeed, the whole of Nigeria. It is in recognition of his social and economic life that his remains were laid in state at Igbo-Elerin, Aremo and Oja’gbo family compound.“Its purpose is to afford his people, whom he ruled over, to say bye to him before his final burial. The concept is dynamic for the man known to be a man of the people, to be appreciated by his people.”In Yorubaland, bodies of traditional rulers were usually not presented before the public.
The burial programme continues today, with a lecture at the Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan, at 11.00 a.m, while his remains will be buried on Friday, at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, Aremo cemetery, Ibadan.
The government team was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, while many high chiefs and senior chiefs of the Olubadan were also in attendance.
