Olubadan of Ibadan, Olalekan Balogun, has passed away at the age of 81. According to his media aide, Oladele Ogunsola, the monarch died on Thursday evening shortly after being admitted to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo state.

“Baba was hale and hearty on Monday when he personally received the few guests who paid him congratulatory visits on his second-year anniversary on that day,” said Kola Balogun, the younger brother of the Olubadan, referring to the late monarch’s health condition earlier in the week.

Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, expressed his condolences, describing the late monarch as “a mighty Iroko.”

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while,” Governor Makinde said in a statement.

Oba Dr. Balogun, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, ascended to the throne two years ago, receiving the staff of office on March 11, 2022, following the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji. The late monarch’s burial will take place on Friday evening at his Aliiwo ancestral home in Ibadan, in accordance with Islamic rites.