By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late Olubadan of Ibadan,Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade as an epitome of honesty and dignity as the remains of the monarch was interred.
The President who said this at the funeral service held for the late monarch at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, asked Nigerians to emulate the exemplary lifestyle of Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade.
Speaking through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari declared that the late Olubadan exhibited the fear of God throughout his lifetime, saying, “Nigerians must learn to live a ‘stainless’ life without any blemish and save a better future for the Nigerian child.
“People from the whole of this nation, not just Ibadan are proud to have a monarch such as late Olubadan. We’re proud to have such a person and he showed us all that it’s possible to live with forthrightness, even in this land, to live with honesty. It is possible to live without soiling our hands because at the end of the day and of our time, we must be in a position to be celebrated in the way that we celebrate Baba the Olubadan today,” he said.
The President added “we should leave to our children and grand children a great legacy and a great nation. I think Baba has left for us great legacy indeed. And we’re exceedingly proud of it and we pray that Almighty God will enable his name to live in our midst forever and that his children and all that have one thing or the other benefit from this incredible legacy he has left,”.
The President then emphasized the need for Nigerians to work towards being celebrated while alive and to leave a good legacy after death, saying, “the whole of Nigeria is proud to have the like of the late Oba Odulana because of his life of honesty and forthrightness.
“I hope we all can imbibe such Spartan life so that we can be celebrated like him. I’m proud to call him my own father. He was a king who earned the respect of all through his life of dedication and service to humanity.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi in his remark said the late Oba Odulana left an indelible mark in the sands of time in the areas of politics, civil service, military and other leadership positions he was privileged to occupy before his ascension to the throne.
“Let us remember with pride that Kabiyesi was a quintessential patriot and nationalist who served meritoriously with dignity and transparency in all the positions that he was privileged to attain in his lifetime. Let me recall with nostalgia and affection how Kabiyesi supported our administration’s urban renewal programme and how he appreciated our efforts at improving on the beautification of Ibadan in particular and Oyo State in general.”
