Farewell to a Monarch of Grace: Ibadan Bids Final Goodbye to Oba Olakulehin

Ibadan stood still on Friday as the ancient city bade farewell to its revered monarch, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who was laid to rest at St. Peter’s Cathedral Church, Aremo, amid a blend of royal tradition, Christian solemnity and full military honours.

The Oyo State capital became a sea of dignitaries, as Governor Seyi Makinde, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (represented by Maj. Gen. Obina Onubogwu) and other prominent Nigerians gathered to pay their last respects. For the retired Nigerian Army Major who once served his country in uniform, the final salute came with the crack of a ceremonial gunfire and the folding of the Nigerian flag, handed with dignity to his grieving family.

In his moving sermon, Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of the Ibadan North Diocese, Most Rev’d Williams Aladekugbe, reminded mourners of the fleeting nature of life. Quoting 2 Corinthians 5:10, he urged, “Be mindful of the life you live. Refrain from judging others when you do not know the full story. What you do today can shape or ruin your tomorrow and we shall all give account to our Creator.”

The archbishop’s words painted a portrait of the late Oba not just as a ruler, but as a unifier. “Kabiyesi was a leader of grace, a father to all, a champion of inclusiveness, and a pillar of Christian faith. Under his watch, Ibadanland enjoyed peace, development, and the transformation of its traditional institution to greater heights. He gave generously, lived humbly, and left legacies that will outlast us all,” he said.

The cathedral pews and surrounding grounds overflowed with attendees, including Oyo State Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, former Deputy Governor Ahmed Gbadamosi, former Minister of Steel and Power Wole Oyelese, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, the Olubadan-in-Council led by Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes led by Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, Mogajis, Baales, senior military officers, Amotekun operatives, and countless well-wishers.

In the end, Ibadan did not just bury a king, it celebrated a lifetime of service, unity, and faith. And as the sun set over the city’s hills, the echoes of the gun salute seemed to linger, not just in the air but in the hearts of those who called him Kabiyesi.