The late Oba Balogun, who reigned for two years, died on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the age of 81.
Obasanjo was received by the late Oba’s wives, Olori Olayinka Balogun, and Olori Olufunmilayo Balogun.
Obasanjo described the late Oba Balogun as a personal friend.
He said, “The late Olubadan was not a foreigner to me, he was my friend and it is my duty to pay this visit to his family. He carried the position very well. He was ‘Gbobaniyi’.
“Naturally, we would have loved him to be around us for much longer time, but God knows best. As it is said in Yoruba that ‘o wuni ka jeran pe lenu, oofa ona ofun o je’ that’s as much as we want to hold the meat in our mouth, the drawer from our oesophagus won’t allow us.
“As I said, God knows best. Assuming that death did not come when it came but a worse thing happened, what could have been our reaction? We thank God for him. It is not how long, but how well.”
Responding on behalf of the family, the Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Tajudeen Aremu, said what the former President did with the visit was a demonstration of genuine love.
Aremu said, “There’s nothing our late father can do for anybody now, he is no more in a position to offer anybody anything, either tangible or intangible, so whatever anybody does for him now is not because of receiving anything in return from him, but out of deep love and concern.
“The family appreciates Your Excellency, and it is our prayer that God will preserve you more for the country in general and for Yoruba in particular.”
Earlier, the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, while welcoming Obasanjo and his entourage, recalled that the former President was among the dignitaries that paid the late Olubadan a visit before his coronation and his coming now after his death was a clear demonstration of the love that existed between both of them.
