Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, Soun of Ogbomoso, has revealed plans to give Alagba, the chance to remain for another century.
The Nation’s Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE stated this in a report after his encounter with the Ogbomoso King.
According to the report, while he was alive, Alagba was more than a diapsid. He was arguably the oldest living mammal in the world. He was venerated, loved by the people, who turned his abode in the palace to a tourist point.
Prince Oyewumi told The Nation that nobody can actually put his finger on who gave the tortoise the name Alagba (which means an old fellow). “We just came to know him as Alagba. Two to three generations met it with that name,” he enthused.
For its importance to Ogbomoso and Nigeria, Prince Oyewumi said museums have applied to preserve its body. But Oba Oyewumi has consistently refused their application. He reasoned that the palace should find a way to do what any museum wants to do to the remains and retain Alagba in the palace.
According to the palace secretary, the Natural Museum of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has offered to preserve Alagba’s corpse for another 100 years. But he revealed that a resident of Ogbomoso has come forward to demonstrate ability for the same. Hence, the monarch has agreed that Ife should preserve Alagba’s body for 100 years in the palace in order to retain its relevance.
Ajamu said: “Our focus is to preserve it for unborn generations to also see it. Since we all have a common purpose, we agreed to have it in Ogbomoso.”
If well preserved, Alagba will retain its place in the palace where it lived for most of its life. It may also find its way into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest living creature on earth.
