August 9, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
It was a day of solemnity, tradition, and national honour on Friday as dignitaries, military top brass, and the people of Ibadanland gathered to pay their last respects to the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who was laid to rest in a ceremony befitting his royal stature and military background.
The funeral, held at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, drew an array of high-profile guests, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, his deputy Bayo Lawal, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede — represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ojoo, Major General Obinna Onubogun. Members of the Olubadan-in-Council, led by the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), led by President General Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, were also in attendance.
The late monarch, a retired officer of the Nigerian Army, was accorded full military honours during his interment, reflecting his service to the nation before ascending the throne. The highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic military rites — the firing of ceremonial gunshots marking his final departure and the presentation of the Nigerian national flag to his next of kin. These gestures, steeped in military tradition, underscored the dual legacy of Oba Olakulehin as both a revered royal father and a gallant soldier.
The burial took place at the church cemetery within the Cathedral compound, following a funeral service marked by heartfelt tributes and reflections on the monarch’s contributions to Ibadanland. Many described him as a leader who combined discipline, humility, and dedication to his people, leaving behind a legacy of unity and service.
His passing marks the end of an era in the history of Ibadan, with his memory etched not only in the annals of the city’s monarchy but also in the proud traditions of Nigeria’s military.
