The 40th Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, Dies at 102

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, dies in his palace at age of 102. The monarch had his last breath between 2:30pm and 3:00pm, as confirmed, on Tuesday 19, January 2016. The 40th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, joined his ancestral. He ascended the throne of his forefathers on August 17, 2007, is dead.

He died at 102 years and spent 9 years, 5 months on the throne. Report had it that his remains was immediately taken to a mortuary. When contacted, the late Olubadan's eldest son, Prof. Femi Lana, declined to confirm his father's death. It was gathered that the traditional ruler had been sick for sometime as a result of old age.

The monarchy was last seen in public functions on January 1, 2016, when he blessed and assigned to the promotion of the 9th Ibadan chiefs in Olubadan line. The promoted chiefs included Chief Saliu Adetunji, who is now the Olubadan-in-waiting; Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun; and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who is a former governor of the state.

Chief Adetunji is from the Military Line (Balogun) and he is to succeed Oba Odulana who was from the Civil Line (Otun).

Sen. Lekan Balogun, one the High Chiefs of Ibadan, confirmed the death on Wednesday in Ibadan. Balogun, who is the Otun Olubadan, also said that the traditional chiefs were meeting over the burial arrangement. “ The death of the Olubadan has been confirmed; it is true that the monarch is dead,” he said.

One of the daughters of the monarch, Mrs Folasade Bankole, said that her father was a rare gem. “He lived the way he wanted to live and died the way he wanted to die. He achieved all he set out to before his death. We thank God for his life,’’ she said.

The Aare Alaasa of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Alabi, described the demise of Odulana as a big loss to the people of Ibadanland. “He was a repository of history and an icon of culture, education and justice. We will miss a great king in the entire Yorubaland, Nigeria and indeed Africa. “He was among the rare kings of the century in Africa and the world. We pray his soul would find repose in heaven,’’ he said

The late Olubadan was born on April 14, 1914 and in 1964, he became Minister of State for Labour. He joined the royal chieftaincy lineage as Mogaji in 1972. He became the Olubadan at the age of 93 in 2007.