Raji was a Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering.

He was at a time the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states.

According to his family in a statement issued, Raji died peacefully in his sleep on Friday December 19, 2025 at his residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

According to his family, Janazah prayers will hold on Saturday December 20,  at Ogbomoso Central Mosque, Oja’agbo at 11 a.m. and will later be buried at a Muslim cemetery in Ogbomoso.

He is survived by wife, children, friends and family.

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The president made the declaration on Tuesday.

He said the country’s economy had become stable and attracting interest from around the world.

He stated this at the State House when he received Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, in audience with some other royal fathers.

President Tinubu said, “Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and all of that denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development.

“Then we were confronted again with arbitrage trading of currency, an illusion of selling papers, corruption all over the place, and the integrity of the country and its economy being extremely and adversely challenged.

“We had to take those actions. With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised. The bleeding has stopped. Haemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive.”

The president also said the establishment of NELFUND was to ensure that no student would drop out because of poverty.

He affirmed that everybody had a right to education as it was the “greatest weapon you can give to human beings against poverty; that’s what we are doing. We have remained aggressive on our infrastructure. And it’s just two years.”

President Tinubu thanked the Soun of Ogbomoso for crediting his administration with the bold decisions taken immediately upon resumption of office.

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He noted that the people of Ogbomosoland were already feeling the modernisation and transformation introduced by the monarch, who promised to strengthen traditional institutions.

The president promised to engage the Ministers of Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, and Works to look into the visiting monarch’s requests, stating they could make Nigeria self-sufficient in agriculture.

The Soun commended the president for his incredible strides, which “only a bold leader could have recorded. Removing fuel subsidy has shown us that it is the right decision, and we can see the effects.”

Oba Ghandi Olaoye said the foreign exchange reforms and introduction of NELFUND had made it easier for many students to continue their schooling without considering dropping out.

The monarch also commended the president for awarding the contract for dualization of the Oyo-Ogbomosho Road, which had been abandoned for decades, pointing out that the road would spur economic activities as a significant gateway to the North.

The paramount ruler, however, requested the president’s intervention in the water and power supply in Ogbomoso, the upgrading of the General Hospital in the town into a Federal Medical Centre, as well as the establishment of a research institute to enhance the development and transformation of the famous ‘Ogbomoso mangoes and cashew nuts’ into a viable agricultural enterprise.

Oba Olaoye thanked the president for appointing Ogbomoso sons to his administration, notably the Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, and the DG of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Debo Adedokun.

On the entourage of the Soun of Ogbomosoland were five other kings representing the five councils in Ogbomosoland, namely High Chief Samuel Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomosoland; Oba Oyetunji Adeyeye, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa; Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, the Onisapa of Isapa; Oba Babatunde Amao, the Aale Oke-elerin, and Oba Prof. Akinola John Akintola, the Olokin-apa of Okin-apa.

Others were High Chief Ogundare Oluwakemi Rebecca, Iyalode of Ogbomosoland; Prof. Sola Adepoju, former DG Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria; Chief Tunji Olaniyi, a businessman, and Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Atanda Owodunni, the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland.

Also present was the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, a prominent ‘son of the soil’ who doubles as the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland.

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Recall that Justice K. A. Adedokun of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso had, on October 25, 2023, nullified the selection and installation of Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

The lower court asserted that the procedure of Olaoye’s nomination was “irregular, null and void”.

It added that the process did not comply with the provisions of the Soun Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.

Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by Olaoye, Justice Yargata Nimpar, who led a three-member panel of justices, resolved the appeal in favour of Olaoye.

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Nimpar said that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case.

According to the judge, the respondents failed to comply with the administrative procedure of writing the government about their dissatisfaction with the selection before approaching the court.

Nimpar, therefore, set aside the lower court’s judgment and affirmed the selection and installation of Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, the respondents’ lead counsel, Mr Abiodun Ogunjumi, said his client was dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Ogunjumi said he was ready to file notice and grounds of the appeal to attack the judgment of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

The respondents are Prince Muhammed Olaore and six others.

Mr Kolawole Fatoye stood in for Olaoye’s counsel, Mr Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Source: NAN

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It was gathered that the incident happened at the institution when the security agent was invited to settle a misunderstanding between two people in the school.

An eyewitness said the security agent allegedly shot sporadically into the air while attempting to settle the matter.

The witness said that it was in the process that the bullet hit the student who lost his life, while two other students also got injured.

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The incident reportedly triggered a riot in the school as students locked the school’s gates in protest, seeking for justice for the deceased.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation had commenced.

“Investigation is ongoing. Updates would be provided accordingly please,” Osifeso said.

Source: NAN

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That was after he performed the final series of traditional rites to become the 30th Soun of Ogbomoso land.

The rites marked the end of the compulsory seven-day seclusion for the new traditional ruler, who visited some historical compounds in the town.

Clad in a golden agbada with a white royal cap and a pair of black shoes, Oba Olaoye held the white horse whip.

The whip was given to him at the “Abata” shrine, where all the past Soun of Ogbomoso were laid to rest.

On arrival at the back gate of the palace, he performed a rite while surrounded by the kingmakers and other subjects.

An indigene, who is familiar with the traditions of Ogbomoso and who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria, on condition of anonymity, said the ritual was to ensure peaceful and long reign.

The new Soun later danced to several traditional local tunes provided by drummers for some minutes, before proceeding for other rites inside the palace.

High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomoso land, led other kingmakers to perform the installation.

He proclaimed Olaoye as “His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Orumogege III and the 30th Soun of Ogbomoso”.

In his remarks at the palace, Mr Gbile Akanni, the Coordinator of Peace House, urged the traditional ruler to live above board by exhibiting exemplary conduct in administering the town.

The cleric who backed his remarks with Biblical verses said the people of Ogbomoso expected the traditional ruler to be a true custodian of tradition, culture and values.

“You are to display high level of decorum and avoid any form of covetous attitude.”

He pledged the loyalty of the entire sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, as well as other residents, to the throne in maintaining peace in the town.

Akanni urged all to see the issue of security as a responsibility of all and urged them to continue to co-exist in peace.

Addressing the crowd, the new Soun of Ogbomoso land, thanked everyone for their love and support and assured them that a new light was set to shine on the town.

He pleaded with all sons and daughters, both at home and in diaspora, to return home and contribute their quota to the development of the town.

“This is a new dawn in the town and factories shall flood the town to ensure that sons and daughters of the town no longer beg for jobs as there would be enough to accommodate them.

“It is God that sent me and asked me to make sure I give you a new Ogbomoso land to make the town a new brand in the comity of its peers.

“The much-awaited development has started immediately. Factories are coming, not just one, but in several folds.

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“It won’t be that you will be crying for employment henceforth, because it is already here with us in Ogbomoso.

“I don’t talk much, but I assure you that you will henceforth be seeing action that will give everyone a fresh hope and that will make everybody proud of coming from this town called Ogbomoso.

“I want to thank everybody for the acceptability and your show of love since I was announced till this moment and I pray that we shall all be living witnesses to our new Ogbomoso land,” Oba Olaoye said.

The high point of the brief ceremony at the palace was the prayer sessions by representatives of the major religions in the town.

Olaoye was selected by the kingmakers as the new Soun of Ogbomoso in the early hours of Friday.

On Saturday, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, approved his selection to become one of the first-class traditional rulers in the state.

The stool has been vacant since Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, Ajagungbade III, joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021.

Thursday’s ceremony was attended by the Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Rashid Akanbi.

Source: NAN

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News of the approval came in a statement issued Saturday evening in Ibadan by the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Olusegun Olayiwola.

Olayiwola said the announcement followed the “long-drawn processes specified under the law.”

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The commissioner stated that Governor Makinde had since congratulated the new traditional ruler of Ogbomoso land on his ascension to the throne.

“The exalted position has placed Olaoye in the position to facilitate harmony, understanding and tolerance among his subjects.

“All sons and daughters of the ancient city of Ogbomoso are implored to work with the new king to consolidate on the successes of his forefathers,” he said.

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It was gathered on Friday that the victims were abducted at Aba area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The hotelier had just returned to Ogbomoso from a trip in the evening before he was abducted with the worker from the hotel.

It was gathered that the gunmen, about 10 of them, fired gunshots to scare the public and thereafter took their victims to an unknown place.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident, adding that the police had already begun investigation.

“Investigation has commenced. You would be provided updates accordingly,” he said.

Kidnapping has become rampant in Ogbomosho area of the state, the latest incident was the third in July.

Christopher Bakare, a farm supervisor, was kidnapped at late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s farm on July 16 at Jabata in Surulere local government area of the state.

A private hospital proprietor, Baba Rasheed, was also abducted on July 22, in the same area.

Both Bakare and Baba Rasheed paid ransom to the kidnappers before they were released.

Source: NAN

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Ayorinde is the Special Counsel to Makinde.

Ayorinde in a statement described the late Alao-Akala as a colorful politician who cared about the welfare of the people around him.

He described the death of Akala as a colossal loss to Nigeria in general and Oyo State in particular.

Ayorinde said the late Alao-Akala was a peacemaker and would be missed by the people of Ogbomoso and Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Paying tribute to the former governor, Ayorinde said “The late Alao-Akala was a unifying force in time of crisis. He was a leader and an uncommon patriot whose understanding of governance was profound and remarkable.

“I worked closely with him when I was the chairman of council and Pro-chancellor LAUTECH.  I knew him as far back as 1990 when he was in the Nigeria Police Force  through his uncle, Commodore Salaudeen Akano.

“He was a colorful politician who cared about the welfare of the people around him. He will be missed by the people of Ogbomoso and Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.”

Ayorinde, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the former governor, said his death was “an eclipse of a political figure, who despite all political odds, still commanded great respect from his people.”

While noting that his death had created a huge vacuum in Oyo State, Ayorinde prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and that God would comfort his immediate family.

Alao-Akala, who was born in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, on June 3, 1950, died at the age of 71.

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He was 71 years old.

His death was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, by the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker Committee in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke.

He said the former governor died in the early hours of Wednesday.

Said Oke in a telephone interview by NAN: “It’s a rude shock because this is a personal loss to me.

“I am down in all ramifications. I’m highly devastated and can’t really talk much for now. Please, let’s talk later.”

Also confirming his death, a former Military Governor of Oyo State, Retired Maj.-Gen. Oladayo Popoola, described the demise of Alao-Akala as shocking.

Popoola, who is also a prominent indigene of Ogbomoso, the birthplace of Alao-Akala, said that news of his demise was communicated to him over the phone.

“Yes, I have received the news. It’s shocking, but I won’t say anything until I get full details,” he said.

A family source, who pleaded anonymity, said the late Alao-Akala returned to Ogbomoso on Tuesday from Abuja, where he had gone to felicitate a former Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Rep. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, on her birthday.

“He returned from Abuja yesterday (Tuesday) and still held meeting with some people in the evening.

“He was found dead in his room this morning,” the source said.

The source said that he died in his Ogbomoso home and his remains had been deposited at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso morgue.

Alao-Akala, a retired police officer, was also a former chairman of Ogbomoso North local government.

He was deputy governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007, and later governor from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

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Makinde made the clarification on Monday when he led his cabinet members to the palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland on official condolence visit to the family and people of Ogbomoso.

Oba Ajagungbade joined his ancestors on December 12 at the age of 95 and was buried same day according to Islamic rites.

Makinde said his late visit to the palace was not a sign that he did not like Ogbomoso people.

“The truth is that all those people that misinterpreted my delayed visit don’t know how close I was to the palace.

“The initial arrangement was that we would attend the ‘eight day Fidau’ since I couldn’t come the exact day that baba died.

“But, I was later informed that the eight day fidau was not appropriate for the type of burial that Soun deserved.

“So, I was told that we should take a bit more time and suspend it to be 40 days fidau and outing.

“And one thing after the other, I had to travel, but I’m here today,” he said.

Makinde said the late first class traditional ruler deserved state burial, adding that his government would accord it to the late traditional ruler.

The governor said his coming to the palace was to have discussion with the late traditional ruler’s family on the planned state burial.

“Officially, on behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I condole the family and the people of Ogbomosoland over the demise of Oba Oyewumi.

“Baba used the position of Soun very well for the development of Ogbomosoland and Oyo State in general.

“He was a firm personality who never hid his feelings, but always spoke the truth; his demise is a celebration of a fulfilled and impactful life.

“So, we will miss baba for those qualities,” he said.

Makinde further prayed that the good dreams the late traditional ruler had for Ogbomosoland would come to reality.

He also condoled the family over the recent death of Prof. Taibat Danmole, the first child of Oba Oyewumi, who died at the age of 71.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr Aderemi Oyewumi, appreciated the governor for the visit.

Oyewumi urged the governor to expedite action on the process of installing another king in Ogbomosoland.

He said that it would not be good for the vacuum to be too long.

Oyewumi advised the governor not to play politics with the issue of who would become the next Soun of Ogbomosoland.

According to him, the next Soun should be someone that would bring development to Ogbomosoland.

“He should not be a person that will bring retrogression to all the developments initiated by the late Soun, but somebody that can keep the legacy going forward,” Oyewumi said.

He described the governor as who had a vital role to play in the selection of the next Soun.

Oyewumi also thanked Makinde for resolving the issue of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, now solely owned by Oyo State.

Source: NAN

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