The former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, paid a condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, saying his reign, though short but impactful.
Oba Balogun passed on March 14 at the age of 81 after reigning for two years.
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 a 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,’ meaning, 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.”
He wrote in his condolence register: “Kabiyesi Balogun, sleep in your creator’s bosom.”
Obasanjo was received by two of the Oloris, Olayinka and Olufunmilayo, and a few of the children of the late monarch.
The Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Tajudeen Aremu, described Obasanjo’s visit as 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 who paid the late Olubadan visit before his coronation and his coming round now after his death was a clear demonstration of the love that existed between the two of them.
