The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has died at the age of 82, Chronicle NG reports.
Alaafin Adeyemi died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state.
The monarch who had been sick and was due to travel abroad for more medical treatment when he passed late.
A family source said all arrangements to fly the Alaafin was already in place and that tickets for a few wives that would accompany him were already purchased.
The remains of the royal father has since been taken to Oyo state in the early hours of Saturday and traditional rites began, palace sources say.
The late Alaafin Adeyemi was the third from the Alowodu Ruling House and the longest reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is expected to make an official announcement upon receiving the report of the monarch’s passing from the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’, who will now lead Oyo before a new Alaafin is installed.
His death comes after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi – died. All happened in less than five months.
A new Olubadan has been installed but the Soun remains vacant.
With the demise of Alaafin Adeyemi, it is now the turn of the Agunloye Ruling House to produce the next Oyo monarch. Mr Adeyemi’s predecessor, Bello Ladigbolu, was from the Agunloye House.
Nigerians have begun reacting to the passing of the monarch on social media with many paying tribute to the Alaafin of Oyo’s reign.
