UPDATED: ALAAFIN OF OYO: What You Need To Know About Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Alaafin Of Oyo Kingdom As Palace Of Oyo Confirmed His Death

UPDATED: ALAAFIN OF OYO: What You Need To Know About Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Alaafin Of Oyo Kingdom As Palace Of Oyo Confirmed His Death 

Save Our Nation (SON)

April 23, 2022

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, was born on October 15, 1938.

The spokesperson for the late Oba, Mr Bode Durojaye, confirmed the death in a terse response to an inquiry by our correspondent.

He said, “Alaafin is dead. Details in due course.”

It was gathered that the octogenarian monarch died on Friday night in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital after a brief illness.

Sources at the palace confirmed the death of the traditional ruler to our correspondent on Saturday morning.

Sources said the Governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, had been informed of the passage of the monarch.

The monarch who clocked 83 years on October 15 was reportedly receiving treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti where he gave up the ghost.

The monarch is the third prominent Oba to have died in Oyo State in less than five months.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Okadunni Oyewumi died on December 12, 2021, the late Olubadan of Ibadan, died on January 2, 2022 and the Alaafin died on April 22.

Also, the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Abdul-Azeez Adewuyi died in December 2021 and the monarch of Ikoyi town in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oba Abdulyekeen Ayinla died in April 2022.

He is from Alowolodu Royal House and a member of the House of Oranmiyan.

His father, Raji Adeniran Adeyemi became Alaafin in 1945 and was deposed and exiled in 1954, 9 years after, for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC.

Adeyemi III’s great-grandfather, Atiba was Oba Atiba Atobatele, who founded New Oyo while his great-great-grandfather was Alaafin Abiodun direct descendant of Oranmiyan, the founder of the Oyo Empire.

Lamidi Adeyemi was chosen by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970, and then moved into the palace after completing the necessary rites under the tutelage of the Oyomesi.

Oba Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo,

He is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before ascending the throne of his fathers

Lamidi Adeyemi III began his education at a Quranic School in Iseyin, after his primary education, he was offered admission into Igbobi College and St. Gregory’s College, Obalende. He chose to attend St. Gregory’s College Obalende.

Lamidi worked briefly at the Royal Exchange Assurance in Lagos.

Alaafin is married to 13 wives which include Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, his senior wife other wives are Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Badirat Ajoke Adeyemi, Ayaba Memunat Omowunmi Adeyemi, Ayaba Omobolanle Adeyemi, Ayaba Moji Adeyemi, Ayaba Anuoluwapo Adeyemi, and Ayaba Damilola Adeyemi

He was honoured with the national honour of CFR at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos in 1979.

In 1980, the Federal Government appointed Kabiyesi Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III as the pioneering Chancellor of the newly established University of Sokoto, now Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto where he spent 12 years.

He was in his second term as Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State when he joined his ancestors.