The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, joined his ancestors at the age of 90.
The monarch, who succeeded the late Oba Lekan Balogun, died early Monday morning (today) during the ongoing 90th birthday and first-anniversary coronation celebrations.
Oba Olakulehin’s demise comes just two days after he marked his 90th birthday. The late Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin, was birth on July 5, 1935. He was officially presented with the staff of office by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on July 12, 2024, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Olubadan’s death was rumoured in March 2025
In March 2025, it was rumoured that the monarch had died. However, the New Daily Prime reported that the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Michael Ogunsina, has disclosed that the monarch was not dead in a terse statement, saying he spoke with the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Oyo State, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, who told him the Olubadan was alive.
Also, the Oyo State Government denied media reports suggesting that the revered monarch was alive.
Also, in a chat with our correspondent, the Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Gbenga Ayoade, debunked the death rumours, saying that the monarch is hale and healthy.
“By the time I left the palace around 8 pm, there was nothing of such an incident. Things were moving well. There was no crisis. And when I contacted the palace after I left, they told me Baba was hale and healthy.
“The monarch just finished eating amala. He is hale and healthy. It is just a rumour. There is nothing of such,” he had said in May.
