BREAKING: Alaafin of Oyo Cause Of Death Emerges

Newsonline earlier reported that the top Yoruba monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has passed on. Alaafin of Oyo died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State in South-West Nigeria.

This online news platform understands that remains of the Alaafin of Oyo, the third from the Alowodu Ruling House, were brought to Oyo town, 62 kilometres from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the early hours of Saturday and traditional rites began, palace sources told this newspaper.

Alaafin of Oyo cause of death: How Alaafin of Oyo died

Newsonline reports that the Alaafin of Oyo was 83 years old and the longest-reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years. The monarch had been sick and a plan had been made to fly him abroad before he passed on late Friday night.

Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, southwest Nigeria, is expected to make an official announcement upon receiving the report of the monarch’s passing from the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’, who will now lead Oyo town before a new Alaafin is installed.

A source familiar with the medical travel plan said the tickets of Alaafin of Oyo and those of a few wives were already procured. The Alaafin of Oyo death came months after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi – died. All happened in less than five months.

Meanwhile, reports that a new Olubadan has been installed but the Soun throne remains vacant. The Alaafin of Oyo was born Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi on October 15, 1938, into the Alowolodu Royal House of the famous Oyo town.

Late Lamidi Adeyemi was crowned as the Alaafin of Oyo on November 18, 1970, succeeding Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu I. He was known popularly as Iku Baba Yeye.

While he reigned, the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairperson of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. With the demise of Alaafin Adeyemi, it is now the turn of the Agunloye Ruling House to produce the next Oyo monarch. Mr. Adeyemi’s predecessor, Alaafin Ladigbolu, was from the Agunloye House.