Heritagenewsng reports, In fulfilment of the scriptures that there is time for everything under the sun, a time to be born and a time to die, more so, the creator said from dust are we made and unto dust shall we return. It is with heavy hearts but in total submission to the will of the Ruler of the universe and in appreciation to Him for a life well spent, we announce the death of the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Oladapo Oyebade JP.
Born over 8 decades ago to the Ogbenuote ruling house of Ogotun-Ekiti and after his service to his fatherland in the old Ondo State Civil service, he was one of the 3 candidates that were presented by the ruling house to succeed his immediate predecessor in 1980, after a long tussle.
He was finally installed on May 18, 1985 as the OLOGOTUN OF OGOTUN KINGDOM joining his ancestors to become another king in history who is entitled to see the innermost part of the crown in Yorubaland.
In his over 36 years of reign, he brought unprecedented developments to the town including the cancellation of outdated taboos in the community which created more job opportunities for the people and increased the economic viability of the town, the new modern era palace, attraction of various development programmes and infrastructure with more government presence.
As the only Pelupelu Oba in the Local Government, he served as the Chairman of the Local Government council of Obas and later became the Chairman, Ekiti State Traditional Rulers Council in 2015 for a tenure of 2 years.
He was in the process ordained as a Pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God and he never missed any Holy Ghost Congress and convention in his lifetime.
He facilitated the visit of the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor E. A. Adeboye to the town which also had a tremendous positive impact on the town. Oba Oladapo during his lifetime donated a whole school to the church and community.
The late Kabiyesi was one of the best historians in Yorubaland, he served on various committees for Ekiti State Government especially on boundary adjustment owing to his vast and up to date knowledge of history of the region.
Having reigned for over 36 productive years on his fore-father’s stool, he broke the 25 years of rule jinx as his 3 immediate predecessors never exceeded 25 years on the throne. He joined his ancestors in the world beyond on September 27, 2021 in his palace in Ogotun-Ekiti.
His death is not just a loss to Ogotun Kingdom but to the entire state and the nation at large. It is indeed a time of deep condolence for us as a people as the Second-in-command to the Late Ologotun, the Ogboni of Ogotun Land and the Head of the Iwarefa Mefa, the highest chieftaincy council in the town, High Chief Otunlape also joined his ancestors on September 24, 2021.
We sincerely condole with the 2 families and the survivals; wives and children. And while we pray that their souls rest in perfect peace, we equally pray that the Almighty God grant the whole community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss as the effect of the vacuum left by their departure will be greatly felt by the town and the state at large.
Details of their burial arrangement will be communicated as soon as the families finalize it.
God bless the good people of Ogotun-Ekiti.
*Tunde Oluwasimirin*
*National Director of Public Relations*
*Ogotun Development Union.*
*tundemerry@gmail.com*+2348035284218*
