The Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland and the Chairman of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, reportedly passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
A palace source who craved anonymity died on Wednesday after a brief illness.
Though the Owa Obokun palace has not issued an official statement about the monarch’s death, sources within the palace confirmed the popular monarch’s death.
The source said, “Baba has passed, but we are waiting for an official announcement from the palace.
“You can see that they have started performing some traditional rites. This has to be done before any announcement can be made,” she added.
He succeeded the late Oba Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika, who died in 1981. He became the Owa-Obokun Adimula on February 20, 1982 and was crowned by the late Governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, on May 15, 1982. His reign spanned 42 years.
An academic traditional ruler, the octogenarian was the first monarch to hold a Ph.D. He was a writer, teacher and publisher of books, most of which were the official titles of the WAEC for its O and levels examinations. One of his books, Economics for West Africa, was published in 1966 in collaboration with his friends, Alabi Ogun and Areoye Oyebola. He wrote and published 14 educational books.
On December 1, 1971, Owa Aromolaran left the old Oyo state civil service to become a full-time publisher and established Aromolaran Publishing Limited, a firm he ran until he ascended the throne in 1982.
Even as the paramount ruler of the Ijesas, Oba Aromolaran served as the Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Yola.
He was later honoured with the award of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR).
On Thursday, Yinka Fasuyi, Asiwaju of Ijesaland, announced the king’s passing after rumours of his ill health began circulating on social media.
In a tribute, Fasuyi extolled the reign of the king, describing him as the “pride of Yoruba traditional intellectualism.”
“A monumental history closes! The lion departs the forest! The torch bearer Of Oduduwa relocates! The symbol Of Obokun Adimula transits!” the tribute reads.
“The elegance Of Ijesaland royalty takes a bow! The pride Of Yoruba traditional intellectualism exits! The conscience Of Yoruba traditional rulers departs!
“The Last Of the titans bids farewell! Ijesaland celebrates the life of her idol! Ijesaland extolls the life Of our imperial majesty! Ijesaland eulogises the reign Of ur Owa Obokun Adimula! Ijesaland applauds the legacy Of our paramount ruler! 42 Years Of monumental reign comes to a glorious end!”
Aromolaran was born in October 13, 1937 into the royal household of Oba Iluyomade Aromolaran I.
He started his primary school education at Otapete Methodist school, Ilesa and finally completed his primary education at the Agbeni Methodist school, Oke Ado, Ibadan.
Aromolaran attended Ilesa Grammar School, between 1970 and 1974 before attending the then University College Ibadan (UCI) which was then a College of the University of London (now the University of Ibadan) where he obtained the B.Sc. degree in Economics.
In 1965, he did a post-graduate diploma in public administration of the University of Ife, then located at Ibadan, and also holds a master’s degree in mathematical economics.
He earned his PhD in development economics under the supervision of Prof Samson Olajuwon Kokumo Olayide, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
