The olu-oke of Okeigbo kingdom in Ile-oluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo state, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, PhD, Bamigbala I, has joined his ancestors
Oba Babajide was recently sacked by an Ondo state high court sitting in Ondo Town.
The court nullified the appointment of the traditional ruler, having admitted that Oba Oluwole, who was crowned as the monarch of the community in 2018, was not a member of the ruling house which turn was, to fill the then-vacant stool of the town
The news of his demise was contained in a statement in the ancient town.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW
His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, PhD, Bamigbala I, the Oluoke and Paramount Ruler of Okeigbo Kingdom has joined his ancestors.
The news was made public on friday morning at the main market of the town by the Isoros led by Pakoyi (Baba Loja) of Okeigbo Kingdom, Chief Akinbobola Adedigbo who announced the passage of Oluoke to the world beyond.
They immediately commenced traditional rites to allow him to have easy passage to his ancestors.
Oba Babajide was the 17th Ruler and the 6th Oluoke of the town. He was officially presented staff of office on the soil of Okeigbo by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON on the 14th September, 2018.
Oba Lawrence Oluwole Babajide was born on the 23rd July, 1931 to the family of Bamigbala Oloyede through Late Chief Daniel Ayinla Babajide and Late Mama Omiyeni Onidede Babajide both from Aare Traditional Ruling Quarter, Okeigbo.
Kabiyesi used all his life in the service of Okeigbo right from the time he took his first Chieftaincy title as Bobajiro and later Bashorun. He was the chairman of Okeigbo Central Council (OCC) for many years.
On his ascension to the throne, his first assignment was to reconcile aggrieved parties through his reconciliation committee and bring Okeigbo people back to the town. He created “Okeigbo Tuntun” slogan to bring everybody back on track for the beauty and glory of the New Okeigbo. This really worked as many Okeigbos started constructing edifice in support of Okeigbo Tuntun.
During his reign, he facilitated the rehabilitation and reconstruction of kilometres of Okeigbo township roads by the state government and NDDC. His intervention through the state government brought the moribund water corporation of the community back to life.
Within his short and impactful reign, he saw to the completion of a multi million naira Palace building.
For more than ten years, there was no bank in Okeigbo, this made him through his son, established a Micro Finance Bank, LOBREM MFB (the full meaning of the acronym, LOBREM is from Kabiyesi and his Olori’s name; Lawrence Olu Babajide Remi)
With his role as chief security officer of Okeigbo, he led the committee to renovate the damaged and vandalised divisional police office and quarter and also approved reconstruction of a befitting office for the new Okeigbo division for NSCDC.
Kabiyesi in one of his chats with his media team, said he had promised to build a house for God if he was successful in life. He fulfilled his seventy years promise in the year 2020 when he singlehandedly built a modern hall for Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Okeigbo Zone as Secretariat. He did not stop at that, he contributed immensely to the reconstruction and beautification of his church, St James Catholic Church, Okeigbo. To crown this, he greatly supported the Muslim community in getting a new Eid praying ground.
He brought honour and glory to his Kingdom in 2022 when he was promoted to the rank of First Class monarch in Ondo State.
Baba worked for Okeigbo till his last breath on Sunday, 30th April, 2023
Kabiyesi is survived by his beloved wife, Olori Florence Oluremi Babajide, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and lovely sons and daughters of Okeigbo.
May his gentle soul rest in peace
Signed:
Hon Prince Alexander Omojadegbe
DG, Oluoke Media
5th May, 2023
JATS Online News 