The veil is torn. The shadow is cast. The prestigious stool of Olubadan is vacant. The occupier, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, has passed away. The retired major who sat on the throne of Ibadan forebears has journeyed with the grim reaper to take his rightful place, where he shall feast with his predecessors and ancestors.
Oba Owolabi, a big elephant that makes thick forests tremble, fell and went to sleep. The monarch has climbed the ladder to eternity, where he shall be celebrated with Iyá or Dùndún, Bata, Sekere, Agidigbo, and Gangan. The retired major from Okugbaja village who ventured into printing press and bakery to employ Ibadan youths has taken the final bow at the age of 90.
For the people of Ibadan, ‘Agbotikuyo’ (one who hears about death and rejoices) is more than a word or an expression. It is a practice or way of life. When an Olubadan passes away, it’s always an incident of mixed feelings. As the city and its people mourn the loss of the monarch, the family compound of the next Olubadan dances into maximum joy. They do so not because they are unconcerned about the monarch’s death, but to rejoice the fact that their son, the representative of his lineage, is taking his forefathers’ throne.
There can’t be a young Olubadan because it requires a long process guided by age, experience, and maturity to become one. The Olubadan throne is shared between two lines—the Civil and Military. Any person who wears the crown of Olubadan has successfully marched from the prestigious title of Mogaji to Jagun to Ajia to Bada to Aare Onibon to Gbonnka to Aare Egbe Omo to Oota to Laguna to Aare Ago to Ayingun to Asaju to Ikolaba to Aare Alasa to Agba-Akin to Ekefa to Maye to Abese to Ekarun Balogun to Ekerin Balogun to Asipa Balogun to Osi Balogun to Otun Balogun to Balogun. It is indeed a long journey to the Olubadan throne.
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the natural leader of Ibadan, barely ruled for a year before passing away. From 2022 to 2025, three Olubadans, namely, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Oba Lekan Balogun, and Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, had journeyed to the great beyond. The city of brown roofs indeed has suffered immeasurable loss. The sad passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin was a great loss to the people of Ibadan and Nigeria at large. His contributions to national security and the economy are indisputable.
Although Oba Olakulehin’s reign was brief, it showed class and absolute royalty that is grossly lacking in modern monarchy. He was not an Owanbe Oba who would abandon palace duties. He never joked with his primary job and gave the palace and Ibadan all his attention. As a chief of Olubadan, he set up businesses and grew the Ibadan economy too.
Some argued that Oba Olakulehin did not run around because of his age, exposure, and experience. Others argued that he grew into the new role because he started learning as a Mogaji or Jagun. They also wished other Yoruba towns shared the same hierarchy as Ibadan because it would save towns from being ruled by young men who are easily swayed away by childish and uncontrollable appetites for social life.
Here is a brief profile of the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland:
EARLY LIFE
He was born on July 5, 1935, in Okugbaja Village near Akanran, Ibadan. He hails from the Okugbaja family in the Ita Baale area of Ibadan North East Local Government.
EDUCATION
He attended St. James Primary School, Oke Akaran. He also attended Islamic School, Odoiye. He completed his primary education at St. Peter Primary School, Aremo, Ibadan. He proceeded to Yaba Technical Institute for his secondary school education with vocational training in printing and artwork. He studied at Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained his Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Building.
CAREER
He was enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1970 as a 2nd lieutenant and served in the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, rising to the rank of major before retiring in 1979.
MARTIAL LIFE
He was a Christian. He was married with children.
POLITICAL LIFE
He was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, representing the Ibadan South East constituency. He ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing FAKOL Nigeria Ltd., a construction contracting firm, and other businesses, including Olakulehin Press and FAKOL Bakery, after retiring from the army.
LEADERSHIP
He began his journey to the Olubadan throne as the Mogaji of his compound, the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale Olugbode, Ibadan, in 1983. He was installed as the Jagun Balogun of Ibadanland in 1986 and later became the Balogun of Ibadanland, leading the military line in the Olubadan hierarchy. He was crowned the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on July 12, 2024.
FINAL LAP
He passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 90, just two days after marking his birthday.