Veteran Yoruba monarch passes away days after celebrating his 90th birthday; Ibadan and Nigeria mourn his legacy.
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, died on July 7, 2025 at age 90. His passing occurred just two days after his 90th birthday and on the eve of the first anniversary of his coronation as Olubadan. The ancient city of Ibadan has been plunged into mourning. As the paramount ruler of Ibadan, a major Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria, Oba Olakulehin’s death carries both local and national significance.
Biography and Rise to the Throne
Oba Olakulehin was born Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin on July 5, 1935 in Okugbaja village (near Akanran) in Ibadan North East, Oyo State. He attended St. James Primary School (Oke Akaran) and St. Peter’s School (Aremo) before briefly teaching at a local school. He later studied at Yaba Technical Institute in Lagos. In 1959 he joined the Western Region Ministry of Works as a clerk, and in 1970 he enlisted in the Nigerian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Rising through the ranks, he attained the rank of Major before retiring in 1979.
After his military service, Olakulehin turned to business and politics. He founded several Ibadan-based companies – including FAKOL Nigeria Ltd (construction), Olakulehin Press (later Solid Prints), and FAKOL Bakery – contributing to the city’s economic life. In 1992 he entered politics with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and won a seat in the Federal House of Representatives for Ibadan South East. He chaired the House Committee on the Nigerian Army, applying his military experience to national governance.
Olakulehin’s path to the Ibadan throne then followed the city’s unique chieftaincy system. In 1983 he became the Mogaji (family head) of his ancestral compound, Ige Olakulehin, and over the years he climbed the traditional ranks. He was installed as Jaagun Balogun in 1986 and joined the Olubadan-in-Council by 2006. In 2016 he became the Balogun of Ibadanland, one of the two most senior chiefs. Finally, on July 12, 2024, Olakulehin was crowned the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland at Mapo Hall, succeeding the late Oba Lekan Balogun. His coronation was attended by dignitaries including the Vice President of Nigeria and was celebrated by the entire city.
Reign and Achievements
Oba Olakulehin’s reign, though only one year, was marked by a focus on unity, cultural pride, and community development. He presided over numerous cultural and civic events, using his position to bring together Ibadan’s diverse communities. Under his leadership, Ibadan continued to balance modernization with tradition. Community groups like the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) praised the Oba’s wisdom and humility, noting that he actively participated in ceremonies that “fostered community cohesion”. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, in a condolence statement, described the late Oba as “a highly accomplished man of peace, a public servant, and a royal father whose life embodies the highest ideals of leadership, learning, and service”. Tinubu noted that Oba Olakulehin “not only [was] a custodian of Ibadan’s rich history and culture but also a man of intellect and principle whose contributions extended beyond the palace,” bridging tradition and modernity.
Locally, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State – whose administration had presented the Oba with his staff of office in 2024 – expressed deep sorrow and pledged state support. Makinde visited the royal family, condoled with chiefs and descendants, and promised the late monarch a “befitting burial”. He reflected on the Oba’s long life of service, saying, “We don’t always want them to go… but God has designed our bodies for a certain period of time” and assuring that the government would help the family through this loss. Former Information Commissioner Toye Arulogun, speaking for the family, urged citizens to celebrate Oba Olakulehin’s life rather than mourn, calling it a “double celebration” of his 90th birthday and rich legacy. Others noted that during his short tenure as Olubadan he maintained social harmony: Governor Dapo Abiodun of neighboring Ogun State eulogized him as “very urbane and highly cosmopolitan,” a “man of peace whose reign engendered harmony and unity”.
National and Local Reactions
News of the Oba’s passing prompted nationwide tributes. President Bola Tinubu said he received the news “with deep shock,” extending “heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the government and people of Oyo State, as well as the entire Ibadanland”. He hailed Oba Olakulehin as “a symbol of peace, wisdom and continuity,” and noted that the monarch had personally invited him to the Oba’s 90th birthday and coronation anniversary just days before his sudden death. The President stressed that the late monarch’s legacy of blending tradition with progress made him a stabilizing force for Ibadan and the wider Yoruba nation. The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria’s foremost Islamic traditional ruler, also mourned him as a “remarkable leader and good-hearted giant” whose brief reign left an indelible mark on Ibadan and the country.
Locally in Ibadan, traditional chiefs, political leaders and thousands of citizens joined in grief. Governor Makinde’s delegation – including the Olubadan-in-Council and Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes officials – expressed gratitude for the Oba’s leadership and pledged support for the family. In a unique Ibadan tradition, the royal drummers at Mapo Hall ceremonially “shifted allegiance” to the next heir, signaling the continuity of the stool. At Oba Olakulehin’s palace, many wept openly; yet his family encouraged a spirit of thanksgiving. As one relative said, “At this moment we want to give glory to God for a life well lived… this is a celebration, not a time for sorrow”.
Cultural Significance of the Olubadan Title
The Olubadan is the paramount traditional ruler of Ibadan and a key figure in Yoruba kingship. The title literally means “Lord of Ibadan,” reflecting the Oba’s role as ceremonial head and custodian of the city. Ibadan’s succession system is unique in Yorubaland: instead of a single royal dynasty, any eligible male titleholder can eventually become Olubadan by rising through dozens of chieftaincy ranks in either the civil or military hierarchy. In this way, the throne alternates between the Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (warrior) lines. This meticulously organized “Olubadan succession” process ensures that the Oba has served at every level of Ibadan’s traditional leadership before ascending.
Yoruba culture holds that Obas are divinely ordained custodians of communal values and heritage. The Olubadan, in particular, is viewed as a symbol of unity and pride for the people of Ibadan and beyond. As one commentary notes, the Olubadan institution “is not only a traditional institution but also a symbol of unity and heritage for the Yoruba people”. In modern times, the Olubadan’s role is largely ceremonial, but it remains deeply respected. Oba Olakulehin himself emphasized Ibadan’s rich heritage, often attending cultural festivals and working with community leaders. His reign was expected to usher in “a period of growth, modernization, and cultural renaissance” for the city, even though it was cut short.
Succession: What Happens Next
Ibadan customs dictate a formal mourning and succession process when an Olubadan dies. The city has declared a 21-day mourning period in honor of the late Oba, during which flags fly at half-mast and public festivities are subdued. After mourning, the Olubadan-in-Council (the kingmakers, drawn from both chieftaincy lines) will meet to select the new monarch. According to the long-established hierarchy, the Otun Olubadan (Chief Deji of Ibadan), Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, is now first in line. Oba Ladoja – a former governor of Oyo State – will be formally nominated as the 44th Olubadan by the Balogun and Osi Olubadan during a traditional ceremony at the new Olubadan palace in Oke Aremo. He is expected to return to Ibadan shortly to preside over this process. Once approved by government authorities, he will be crowned the next Olubadan in accordance with Ibadan’s unique rotational system.
Legacy
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin’s passing marks the end of a distinguished life of service across many arenas. From soldier and entrepreneur to legislator and traditional ruler, he built a legacy of leadership and dedication to Ibadanland. His brief tenure as Olubadan embodied the role’s highest ideals: he strove to blend respect for Ibadan’s storied past with the needs of a modern city. As President Tinubu observed, Oba Olakulehin “bridged tradition and modernity” and his “wisdom and moral authority” helped stabilize the region. Ibadan mourns a monarch who lived “a life well-lived”. Though a new Olubadan will soon ascend, Oba Olakulehin’s memory endures in the values he championed – a testament to the continuity of Nigerian traditional leadership and the enduring strength of Yoruba culture.
Sources: News reports and official statements from Nigerian media outlets and the Olubadan’s palace confirm the details of Oba Olakulehin’s life, reign, and the reaction to his death, along with background on the Olubadan institution. These sources provide the factual basis for this obituary-style tribute.