About 10 leaders and great personalities mostly Ibadan indigenes have died in first 6 months of 2020, InsideOyo.com reports.
Recently, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, expressed concern over recent cases of deaths of Ibadan elders.
The monarch said the cases are becoming a worrying trend and call for prayers.
InsideOyo.com looks at the first 6 months of 2020 with prominent Ibadan leaders who have died.
1. Richard Akinjide – Legal Luminary
A legal luminary, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) is dead. He died at the age of 88. In addition to being a member of the Oderinlo chieftaincy family, he also himself served as a chieftain in the Olubadan of Ibadan’s court of clan nobles.
2. Areoye Oyebola – Ekerin Balogun Bobajiro of Ibadanland
Veteran journalist Chief Areoye Oyebola died at 85 in March 2020.
The former Editor of Daily Times passed on in his sleep in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyebola was a teacher before venturing into journalism, where he rose to the position of Editor of Daily Times (1972-1975) and Managing Editor (1975).
He was succeeded as editor by Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
He held the titles of Ekerin Balogun Bobajiro of Ibadanland and Awise of Aiyeteland, Ibarapa.
3. Hon. Kehinde Ayoola – Ex-commissioner of Environment
Oyo Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Kehinde Ayoola died in May
He was a former Speaker of Oyo House of Assembly. He died at a private hospital around Iyaganku, Ibadan where he was receiving treatment.
The Oyo-born politician represented Oyo East state constituency between 1999 and 2003.
4. Lekan Are – Philanthropist
Dr. Lekan Are, a foremost Nigerian agronomist, businessman, philanthropist, Chairman of University Press Plc, and great son of Ibadanland died at 86. He died during a brief illness at the High Dependency Unit of University College Hospital, UCH.
5. Abiola Ajimobi – Ex-Oyo governor
The immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi died last month due to underlying health conditions. He was a former Chief Executive Officer, National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Shell Nigeria.
He married Florence Ajimobi in 1980. He had five children. He was a senator from 2003 to 2007.
He became the first Oyo State governor to serve two terms (2011-2019).
6. Emeritus Prof Akinkugbe
Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe died at the age of 86 in June.
The late Akinkugbe, a foremost Nigerian professor of Medicine at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State. He was the Chairman of the Board of Management of University College Hospital, Ibadan, and one-time Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He served as Pro-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt; former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; and former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
7. Nollywood veteran Ogun Majek
Popular Yoruba actor, Gbolagade Akinpelu popularly known as Ogun Majek, died at his home in Imalefalafia, Oke-Ado. The actor battled prolonged-sickness before his eventual demise.
8. Chief Bode Akindele – Parakoyi of Ibadanland
The Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Chairman, Madandola Group, Chief Bode Akindele, died on the 29th of June.
Akindele, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, died in his Apapa, Lagos home. He was 88.
9. Chief Emiola Adesina – renowned educationist
Chief Emiola Adesina died at the age of 90 in his Ibadan home. He was owner of Subuola Memorial Nursery and Primary School.
10. Muritala Adetunji – business mogul
Chief Adebayo Adetunji died at the age of 88 in Ibadan in May 2020. He was one of the brains behind the formation of the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS),
