BREAKING: Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Joins His Ancestors

Late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has joined his ancestors.

Sources Close to the palace of the prominent Yoruba monarch informed IFECITYBLOG that Alaafin Adeyemi, the third from the Alowodu Ruling House, died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

The remains of the 83 years old first class Oba, report says, were brought to Oyo in the early hours of Saturday as traditional rites began at the palace.

Born on October 15, 1938, Alaafin Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970 to become the longest reigning Alaafin in the history of Oyo kingdom after having reigned for 52 years.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is expected to make an official announcement upon receiving the report of the monarch’s passing from the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’, who will now lead Oyo before a new Alaafin is installed.

Sources say the monarch had been sick and it was being planned to fly him abroad before he passed on late Friday night.

Oyo State has within the last five months witnessed the death of its three senior traditional rulers including the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi.