Oyo oldest monarch dies at 141

The Onilua of Ilua, Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oba Samuel Afolabi, is dead.

Oba Afolabi, believed to be the oldest king in Oyo State, was said to have passed on in the early hours of Saturday after a brief illness, related to old age.

He was said to be 141 years old.

The late monarch was born to the Afolabi family in Ilua, in 1879 and was enthroned as king in the community 38 years ago, at the age of 102.

The late monarch, who was a commercial farmer at Arigidana, Baba Ode in Itesiwaju Local Government of the state before his coronation as king, succeeded Oba Majaro in 1981.

It was learnt that Afolabi’s choice as Oba was unanimously agreed upon by community leaders and king makers of Ilualand at the time.

During his lifetime as a king, he contributed greatly to the growth and development of Ilualand, Kajola Local Government and Oyo state as a whole.