Family members, friends and well-wishers of Chief Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, next in line to become Olubadan of Ibadanland, have started trooping into the Aliiwo Compound and Alarere in Ibadan, for celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondent, who monitored the development on Sunday afternoon in Ibadan, reports that the two compounds had started playing host to visitors, shortly after the news of the demise the current Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, was announced.
At the Aliiwo Family Compound of Chief Balogun, traditional drummers were seen singing songs of praises for the incoming Olubadan to the admiration of family members and well-wishers.
Also, at the residence of Chief Balogun, a former Senator, at Alarere, near Iwo Road interchange Ibadan, community heads, family members and other well-wishers were seen in large numbers waiting to meet the incoming Olubadan.
Few of the visitors were, however, allowed to meet Balogun in his private room, while others were disallowed by security personnel guarding the house.
Some of the family members who spoke with NAN expressed joy for making it possible for their family to produce another Olubadan after long years of waiting.
One of the family members, Mukaila Adebisi, said the last time Aliiwo Compound produced Oba Memudu as Olubadan was in 1952.
The 93-years-old Oba Adetunji, who ascended the throne in March 2016, died early hours of Sunday at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Olubadan’s death brought to four, the numbers of prominent Yoruba traditional rulers that had joined their ancestors in the last three weeks.
95- year-old Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, died on December 12; the Asigangan of Iganganland in Oyo State, Oba Abdul-Azeez Adewuyi Aribiyan II, also died on December 21.
The Gbiri Of Epinmi Akoko in Akoko South-East local government area of Ondo State, Oba Ade Oyekan, also joined his ancestors on December 27 at 60.
The late Oba Adetunji was the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan, following his coronation on March 4, 2016.
Source: NAN
