Another Oyo monarch dies, colleagues mourn

The Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Salawdeen, has joined his ancestors. The traditional ruler was said to have died on Sunday after a protracted illness. Sources within the palace and the town said the town was thrown into mourning following the departure of the monarch. The late Aseyin studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan and went into private practice after his graduation in 1991 until his intallation in November 2006.

The news of the death of the Aseyin came three months after the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, died. Prior to the Alaafin’s demise, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, had died on December 12, 2021 and the then Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, died on January 2, 2022.

The Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Francis Alao, who is the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, described the death of Aseyin as shocking. The Olugbon, in a statement on behalf of other traditional rulers, said this in a condolence message he made available to our correspondent on Sunday. Olugbon’s condolence message read, “The death of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Adekunle Salau, came to me as a rude shock. Although death is the end of every mortal man, we never thought the scholarly monarch would depart this soon.

“Words are not enough to convey how we feel at this moment.  This is another great loss to Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs and the loss is a very painful one.

“However, we take solace in the fact that he served his people wholeheartedly and selflessly. We all in the traditional council in Oyo State will miss him dearly. He was such a colossus; he was full of wisdom and carried himself with dignity.

“I pray God almighty comfort and console his family, the Aseyin-in-Council, the people of Iseyinland and the entire Oyo State.”