At the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Ada in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, family members, subjects and fellow monarchs gathered to pay their last respects to the late Olona of Ada, Oba Theophilus Olalekan Abimbola Abioye II, who died at 65. ADESOJI ADENIYI was at the funeral service for the traditional ruler whose reign brought much development, peace and unity to the agrarian community.
It was a solemn assembly. Yet, it was colourful at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Ada in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State where many paid their last respects to the late Olona of Ada, Oba Theophilus Olalekan Abimbola Abioye II, whose remains were buried after the funeral service penultimate Friday. He was 65.
Those who cried over Oba Abioye’s death did not do so just because they lost a great personality, but also because they lost a man whose lifestyle was a source of inspiration to members of his community.
They eulogised him as a man who not only loved peace and unity but also as a man who loved development and worked so hard to bring about that.
The funeral service and burial of the monarch were characterised by unbridled tributes from those who knew him as speaker after speaker spoke glowingly about the personality and character of the late monarch.
The 17th Olona was installed on Sunday, October 15, 1995.
Many dignitaries across the country attended the funeral service. Among them were the Chairman of Boripe North Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ismaila Idowu, the Chairman of MicCom Wire and Cables, Prince Tunde Ponnle, an engineer; a community leader, Prince Ademola Adetona, Bode Adediji of the Lagos estate firm, Bode Adediji Partnership.
The royalty was, expectedly, there.
The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi and the Olororuwo Ororuwo, Oba Qamarudeen Adeyanju, among others; were there, even as some sent their staff of office.
In his sermon the Rt. Rev. James Popoola, described the monarch as God-fearing and a man with great passion for the development of his domain, which he said he ruled for about 24 years.
He praised the late Oba Abioye for his humility and for providing an exemplary leadership for his people, even as he noted that his reign had brought “rapid development” to Ada.
The cleric, who advised Nigerians to emulate the deceased monarch’s style of leadership, also noted that Ada witnessed peace and unity during his reign.
He added that Ada cultivated friendship with neighbouring communities, adding that this fast-tracked its development.
Remarking that the monarch played his role effectively, the cleric advised Nigerians to always think of heaven where he said they are meant to live till eternity. He, besides, urged people to live in peace and unity with one another so as to make life worth living.
After the service, guests were hosted to a reception at the community’s Grammar School on Ibokun Road.
Prominent son of the town, Ponnle, an Engineer entertained his guests at MicCom Hotels and Resorts, and Prince Adetona held a reception for his guests too at his Ada country home.
Meanwhile, the traditional rulers of the two communities that are contiguous to Ada, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi and the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, Oba Qamarudeen Adeyanju, described him as “a wise monarch, who led his people to live in peace with others.” They said he would be missed for his humility and candour.
The people of Ada also said the late Oba Abioye was acceptable by the community because of his humility and wisdom. The Asiwaju of Ada, Basorun Kola Oyadeji, revealed that the first assignment of the late Oba Abioye on ascending the throne was bringing together all factions in the obaship tussle that preceded his selection as the Olona of Ada.
According to him, he achieved this feat within 30 days of his enthronement. He said: “He raised a formidable committee of community leaders to plan his coronation. The committee immediately arranged his courtesy visits to palaces of prominent Obas in Osun State to formally inform them of his coronation scheduled for December 30, 1995.
“The coronation ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all parts of the country, especially prominent traditional rulers in the state led by the Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas, the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II. That particular event signalled the return of peace and unity to Ada.
“Our late monarch also created a body of youth volunteers known as Action Council to monitor the environmental sanitation and to ensure an orderly physical development of the town.”
The Chairman, Ada Community Development Association, Chief Segun Alalade, a lawyer, said the late Oba Abioye would be remembered for peace and rapid development that characterised his reign.
Alalade said: “He brought unprecedented physical and demographic growth to the community, turning Ada to an urbanised tourist destination from a little known rural community. Ada became a business hub and social activities in Osun State with the establishment of MicCom Golf and Country Club, which certainly is the first private golf course in Nigeria with first-class hotel facilities.
“During his reign also, there was remarkable religious harmony among residents because our late monarch encouraged unfettered freedom of worship with many churches and mosques as well as places of worship for traditional religion adherents that sprout up in all parts of the community.”
An educationist and youth leader in the town, Yemi Omotoso, said the late monarch, whose father, the late Oba Job Oladosu Abioye, was the 14th Olona of Ada, had written his name in gold for his numerous and remarkable achievements within 24 years of his reign.
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