Ibadan Mourns the Death of Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan. The city of Ibadan stood still on Sunday as eminent personalities, including the deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan; former governors, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North; popular Fuji artist, King Wasiu Ayinde; bid goodbye to the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, as he was laid to rest on Sunday evening.
Oba Adetunji breathed his last at about 1.15 a.m. on Sunday at the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, at the age of 93. Adetunji had been referred to the UCH from a private hospital in Ibadan at about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday, after battling with ill health for some days.
Media aide to the late Olubadan, Mr. Adeola Oloko, dispelled the rumours that the late Oba Adetunji was infected with COVID-19, saying the monarch passed on at about 1.00 a.m. on Sunday at the UCH after a brief illness.
Adetunji’s final home journey began with lying-in-state and Salat-al-Janazah held at Mapo Hall in the presence of Mogajis, Baales, political office holders, traditional rulers, Islamic clerics, among others, who paid their last respect.
He was crowned the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan following his coronation on March 4, 2016. Prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land. Oba Adetunji was a successful businessman and Ibadan was peaceful during his reign.