Disclaimer: This article is not out to ridicule the image of any personality but is strictly for information purposes.
The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in the entirety of Western Africa from the mid-7th to the late 18th century.
Today, Oyo is undoubtedly still one of the notable states in Nigeria with a host of great personalities in the annals of Nigeria’s history.
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In this article, Quest Times gathered a list of Oyo paramount rulers that died since the incumbent governor Seyi Makinde ascended office on May 29, 2019;
- Soun of Ogbomoso: Late Jimoh Oyewunmi (December 2021):
Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, was born on May 27, 1926 into the Royal House of Oluwusi in the town of Ogbomosho to the reigning king, Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewumi, Ajagungbade I, and one of his queens, Seliat Olatundun Oyewumi. His father had many wives and 63 children and had 31 daughters and 32 sons. He was the youngest of his mother’s three sons. He was born in the tenth year of his father’s reign. He died on 12 December 2021, at the age of 95.
- Olubadan of Ibadan: Late Oba Saliu Adetunji (January 2022):
Oba Saliu Adetunji was born as the first of 17 children of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji on August 26, 1928 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He grew up learning vocational jobs until he took up fashion designing as a means of living after moving into Lagos. Prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land. He died in Ibadan on January 2, 2022, at the age of 93.
- Alaafin of Oyo: Late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (April 2022):
The latest in the list of Oyo paramount rulers who died during governor Seyi Makinde’s tenure is Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. Alaafin Adeyemi III was born on October 15, 1938 into the Alowolodu Royal House, and as a member of the House of Oranmiyan to Raji Adeniran Adeyemi (born 1871), who later became Alaafin in 1945, and Ibironke of Epo-Gingin, who died when he was young. He was the longest serving Alaafin of Oyo after ruling the Oyo empire for 52 years. He died at the age of 83 on April 22, 2022 at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti.
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