Oba Balogun, aged 81, died on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the University College Hospital Ibadan two years after ascending the throne on March 11, 2022.
The Senate’s resolution on the immortalisation of the late monarch was a sequel to a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Sharafadeen Ali (APC Oyo South).
Ali, in his motion, informed the Senate that the late Olubadan was a leader per excellence, a community developer, and a service-driven politician, which culminated in his election as a Senator from 1999 to 2003.
He said, “The late Olubadan was a man of peace and custodian of the culture and values of the Yoruba people.”
The two other senators from Oyo State, Yinus Akintunde (Central) and Addulfai Buhari (North), also contributed to the debate on the motion by informing the Senate on how the late monarch impacted positively the lives of those who came across him while alive.
Specifically, Buhari said the book written by the late monarch, titled “Arrogance of Power,” given to him in 2003 when he won election into the House of Representatives, helped him a lot, not to get disconnected from people who elected him into the National Assembly over the years.
The Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue South), also eulogised the virtues of the late monarch in his contribution to the motion.
After debates on the motion, the Senate adopted all the prayers sought as resolutions, one of which was to immortalise the late monarch by naming one of the Senate Committee rooms after him.
It also accordingly held a minute of silence in honour of the late Olubadan.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, urged Senator Abdulfatai Buhari to make available, copies of “Arrogance of Power”, authored by the deceased, to all Senators, in guiding them aright at all times.
