The remains of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, were interred on Saturday. The rites started with Islamic prayers before traditionalists took over.
A devout Muslim, he joined his ancestors on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The body was taken to the palace on Saturday morning.
After Islamic prayers, he was buried by traditionalists in Baara.
Sango worshippers were seen with the body before the burial
“Baara is not just the final resting place of all the Alaafins.
“It is also a place where the Alaafin goes to whenever there is need to commune with his ancestors to seek for guidance and or directions,” a palace source disclosed.
One of respected Oyo Princes, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, together with sons of the departed traditional ruler, held series of meetings behind the door before the burial.
The meeting began upon the arrival of Babatunde Adeyemi, the first son of the foremost Oba.
There was uneasy calm at the palace, as many people seen around the palace were in mournful mood over the passage of their frontline traditional ruler.
Many leaders in the town are still in shock about the whole thing, as they are still patiently waiting for further details about it.
Earlier, Mr Bode Durojaiye, the Media Aide to Alaafin, confirmed the reports.
He said Oba Adeyemi joined his ancestors on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he had gone for a routine medical checkup.
Within the last five months, Oyo State lost three prominent traditional rulers.
The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who died in December, 2021; the late Oba Saliu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, died on Jan. 2 and now the Alaafin of Oyo.
Alaafin, who reigned for 52 years, departed at the age of 83.
The Janazat prayer was conducted on the remains of the late Alaafin before the burial.
Janazat prayer is an Islamic prayer conducted on the deceased.
The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Oyoland, Shelkh Moshood Ajokidero.
It was attended by Islamic clerics, sympathisers and some politicians.
Addressing newsmen after the prayer, Ajokidero said that the deceased had contributed his quotas to the development of Oyo Town, Oyo State and Nigeria in general.
The Chief Imam said that Adeyemi had impacted on the lives of many people positively and would forever be remembered for his good deeds.
He called on the livings to always impact positively on humanity, adding that everyone would be remembered for his or her deeds, either good or bad.
Also, Prof. Akin Alao, Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said that Adeyemi had committed his life to the preservation of Yoruba culture.
Alao said that Yorubaland and Nigeria in general would miss Adeyemi’s intellectual contributions to Yoruba culture and development.
