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By Anthony Maliki with agency reports
Foremost traditional ruler in Yoruba land, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has joined his ancestors.
Alaafin, a prominent monarch of the Yoruba race, who is also the permanent chairman Oyo State council of Obas joined the ancestors in the early hours of Saturday 23, April, 2022.
The 83 years old man was born to the family of Raji Adeniran Adeyemi the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).
As at the time of this report, there has not been an official report from the palace as touches his death.
Alaafin Adeyemi III was born Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi on October 15, 1938 into the Alowolodu Royal House, and as a member of the House of Oranmiyan to Raji Adeniran Adeyemi (born 1871), who later became Alaafin in 1945, and Ibironke of Epo-Gingin, who died when he was young.
His father is said to have had over 200 wives. His paternal grandfather was Alaafin Adeyemi I Alowolodu who ruled during the Kiriji War, and was the last independent ruler of the Oyo Empire before British colonialism.
Alaafin Adeyemi I’s father, and Adeyemi III’s great-grandfather was Oba Atiba Atobatele, who founded New Oyo. Atiba’s father, his great-great grandfather, was Alaafin Abiodun and is a direct descendant of Oranmiyan the founder of the Oyo Empire.
Lamidi’s father, the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Adeyemi II Adeniran, was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). He had come into conflict with Bode Thomas, deputy leader of the Action Group.
According to rumors, Bode Thomas shouted at him for not standing to greet him as the chairman of NCNC during a political gathering at a party. Oba Adeyemi II Adeniran, insulted, stood and then told Bode Thomas to go home and bark like a dog. Later, he started coughing blood and died while walking back home leaving his entourage.
Shortly, Herbert Macaulay heard of the catastrophe, and along with Obafemi Awolowo accused Oba Adeyemi II of poisoning Thomas, and then exiled him from his kingdom.
He lived out the rest of his days in Lagos where his subjects still visited him until his death in the early 1960s.
Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
He is married to Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, his senior wife. He attends most events with her or with one of the twelve junior wives that he’s also married to.
His other wives are Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Badirat Ajoke Adeyemi, Ayaba Memunat Omowunmi Adeyemi, Ayaba Omobolanle Adeyemi, Ayaba Moji Adeyemi, Ayaba Anuoluwapo Adeyemi, and Ayaba Damilola Adeyemi.
He is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before ascending the throne of his Fathers. (Additional reports: City Mirror News and Wikipedia)
