Makinde, Olubadan mourn veteran Yoruba poet, Olanrewaju Adepoju

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Monday, commiserated with the family of the late veteran poet, music producer and Yoruba culture promoter, Olanrewaju Adepoju, who died on Sunday evening.

The PUNCH reports that Adepoju died in his Idi-Orogbo residence, off MKO Abiola Way in Ibadan, the state capital, during a protracted old-age related ailment.

In separate statements by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Moses Alao and the Personal Assistant on Media to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, in Ibadan, the state capital, Makinde said Adepoju would be missed by all.

Makinde described him as one of Oyo’s worthy ambassadors in the entertainment industry, stating that he flew the flag of the state for decades.

He said, “We condole with the immediate family of the late poet and the entire people of Ibadanland, and pray to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. I express my deep condolences to the family of Pa Adepoju, the renowned social crusader, who used poetry and music to correct social ills.

“Baba Adepoju was a great ambassador of the Pacesetter State, who flew the flag of the state as a social crusader and made huge impact on the society. My prayer is that God grant repose to his soul and protect the family he left behind.”

Oba Balogun, in his condolence message, described the death of the late Adepoju, who was also the Aare Alaasa of Ibadanland (an honorary title) as a great loss to the entire Yoruba Nation.

He said, “The late Yoruba icon was not just a poet, he was also a musician and an activist, who used his God-given grace to fight for the common good as well as good governance. A democrat, he didn’t sit back during the struggle to free the country from the firm grip of the military.

“He also associated with the pro -democracy groups during the efforts to revalidate the annulled election of the late Basorun Moshood Abiola as the country’s President on June 12, 1993, deploying his energy in his own way to fight the military which he doggedly did.”

Olubadan also noted that the late Adepoju would be remembered for his religious activities through his group, Universal Muslim Brothers with which he propagated his faith alongside his chosen path of endeavour and with which he earned himself accolades of immense proportion.

While congratulating the members of the family for the privilege of having him as one of them, Balogun enjoined them to be proud and happy that the departed soul left behind good legacies, and rather than mourning his passage, they should celebrate him and be grateful to the Almighty Allah for the grace bestowed upon him.

“No doubt, it is painful to loose a loved one and an icon for that matter, but, in this case, there’s nothing anybody can do because it is an act of the Almighty Allah and however long anybody may live, the certainty is that a day would come like this that good bye would have to be said, however sad one may be. We thank Allah for the live of impact, purpose and legacy our departed brother lived and may he be granted Aljanat Fridaus. Amen,” he prayed.