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Oba Adedokun Abolarin Gives Mother Befitting Burial in Oke-Ila

By Eric Elezuo
The busy town of Oke-Ila, Orangun in Osun State, came much more alive as the remains of Mama Mary Ibiteye Abolarin, the mother of the paramount ruler of the town, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, made her final journey to her final resting place.
With an array of dignitaries and community leaders in attendance, the event turned into another carnival of some sort.
The obsequious moments reached an elaborate crescendo on January 29, when a service of songs was held at Obasolo’s Compound with ministers from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Oke-Ila, Orangun, supervising proceedings.
The night featured tributes, eulogies and encomiums from children, well wishers and friends of the deceased, who passed away at the riped age of 92 as well as Bible readings and recitations. It was capped with a short sermon by the officiating minister before members of Mama’s family were prayed for.
The following day featured an elaborate Christian funeral service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, before a mother of all reception was held in her honour, following the interment.
The frontline traditional ruler and philanthropist, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun State, Oba Dr Adedokun AAbolarin did not spare any expense to give his mother a well deserved burial, gathering the men and women of timbre and calibre, movers and shakers of Osun politics and traditional rulers across Yorubaland.
Among the dignitaries were Chief Dele Momodu, Senator Fadeyi Ajagunla and a host of other
The Matriarch of the Abolarin Family, whose death in November 2024 was confirmed by Oba Abolurin, died peacefully in her sleep.
“Mummy died the way she predicted almost 25 years ago.
“No major illness! Routinely, a medical doctor saw her a day preceding her death and certified her okay for her age, she slept later in the night and didn’t wake up.
“She died at her appointed time with her Maker.
“A radiant soul, a loving heart, Mama’s sojourn on earth was a life well-lived with legacies to impart. Her 92 years on earth were truly a blessing filled with industry, patience, and love shining through.
“With unwavering devotion, my mummy served the Lord, she was a faithful servant, with a heart forever adored. Her candour was refreshing, her spirit bold, and woman of principle, never to grow cold. Mummy, you were not just diplomatic, not like us, Igbomina, Oyo, Ibadan!!”
According to him, Mama showed kindness to family and friends, leaving behind fond memories that will forever be shared.
The late Mama Abolurin, Nee Olayomi, who hailed from Ile Aro Owa, Ipoti-Ekiti, was born on October 26, 1932 and transited on Thursday November 21, 2024.
She started life as a teacher and later engaged in trading from 1960.
She was blessed with wonderful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her first child, Elder Oladapo Abolarin, an Environmentalist and one-time Director of Forestry in Osun State, pre-deceased her in 2014, leaving behind the immediate brother, Alayeluwa Oba Dr Adedokun Abolarin and four siblings.
The monarch is followed by Mrs Omolayo Bamiduro, a retired Nurse, Abimbola Farinola, a school teacher and Bamidele Durotade Abolarin, an Ibadan based, Legal practitioner.
THE MAN, OBA ADEDOKUN ABOLARIN
A man of the people, with many glorious caps, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Òràngún of Òkè-Ìlá in Osun State, who in the recent past, was honoured with the degree of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) of the prestigious Leeds City University, Ibadan Oyo State, is more than just a traditional ruler.
A letter of award, signed by the School’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mrs. Oyebola Ayeni, places Oba Aboderin on a high pedestal in humanity, staing that his “immeasurable support and selfless service to the University since inception, your credentials as a worthy role model to the our students and academic community, your solid credentials in grassroots and urban development and your excellent example of royalty worthy of emulation; not forgetting your philanthropic gestures by way of sponsorship of many indigent students in your community to be educated and lifting your subjects out of poverty with your varied development efforts.”
It is worthy of note that the award of honorary degrees of Lead City University is specially given to people of exceptional merit and character. Consequently, the Oba is eminently qualified to be so honoured. The award was presented to Oba Abolarin during the University’s 12th Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at the school premises.
Born on September 24, 1958, the Òràngún of Òkè-Ìlá, in Ifedayo Local Government area of Osun State, Oba Adedokun Abolarin hails from the Obasolo Ruling House, one of the three ruling houses among which the title rotates in Òkè-Ìlá.
Oba Adedokun Abolarin, who was installed on December 8, 2006 is reputed as a well educated professional, versed in law. He attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (formerly University of Ife) where he merited a Bachelors of Law degree, a Master’s Degree in International Relations, as well as B.Sc degree in Political Science. At installation, Oba Abolarin chose the title, Aroyinkeye I, which is translated as “one who finds honey to tend the title.”
Until his installation 2006, the Òràngún of Òkè-Ìlá was a licensed law practitioner with the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He was also the Principal Partner of Dokun Abolarin & Co., a firm of Solicitors and Legal Consultants, which had served as Company Secretary to various corporations among whom are Tell Publications (Publishers of Tell Magazine), Pacific Holdings, Peachtree Communications Ltd, Sportsmark International and Springtime Development Foundation.
A well tutored academic on Nigerian government and politics, the royal father has a wealth of researched and flawlessly written books covering the period 1914 amalgamation to the present. In his writings, he evaluated component elements of federal, regional/state, and local government administration, analyzed Nigerian foreign policy, political parties and pressure groups.
A kind husband to his wives, dedicated father to his biological children and subjects, Oba Aboderin has left nothing to chance in his quest to see that the best happens to his community, bringing his knowledge and experience in life affairs to bear. As a result, his developmental strides have generated thrills and excitement among his people both at home and in the Diaspora as well as those who have cross his path.
An educationist to the core, Oba Abolarin is the Founder of Abolarin College, Oke-Ila-Orangun, Osun State. In his assessment, the school was set up to fight poverty through education and strictly for indigent students of Nigeria. The school has not fallen short in achieving the lofty ideal.
Oba Aboderin is married to many wives and is blessed by a good number of children.
ABOUT OKE-ILA, ORANGUN
The royal father rules over Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún, a mostly agrarian town of about 35, 000 persons according to the 2005 population census. The people of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún kingdom speak a distinctive dialect of the Yoruba language called Igbomina (or Ogbonna). Apart from agrarian occupation, the town has a significant number of artisans, traders, hunters of wild game, school-teachers and other worthy professionals.
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is famous for the energetic dancing and acrobatic skills of its Elewe, the region’s primary Egungun, a dancing masquerade ensemble representing the ancestors during various traditional festivals. The Egungun Elewe is unique to the Igbomina Yoruba sub-group. There are other less popular but unique and peculiar Egungun in the kingdom.
May Mama’s soul rest in perfect peace!
Featured
Glo Partners Samsung to Offer Customers the Exclusive Galaxy S-25

Digital solutions company, Globacom, has teamed up with Samsung, world’s leading manufacturer of electronic devices, to bring a new offer to Glo subscribers. This tantalising deal allows Glo customers to pre-order the highly sought-after Samsung Galaxy S-25 smartphone and enjoy unique benefits.
Samsung Electronics unveiled its newest flagship smartphones: the Galaxy S25 series which comes with cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and was designed to elevate user experience and set new standards in the industry on January 22, 2025.
The pre-ordering exercise kicked off on January 22 and closes on February 18, 2025 at Gloworld shops across the country. It gives customers the opportunity to select from the Galaxy S25 lineup, including the S25 Ultra, the top-tier and most sophisticated model, as well as the S25+ and the standard S25. They, however, come with different processors and storage options.
Customers who pre-order the Galaxy S25 or S25+ will receive complimentary gifts, including a Buds FE, a suit cover, and Samsung Care, while those opting for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, will receive a free Buds 3, a standing grip case, and Samsung Care.
Globacom is also delighting customers who purchase any model from the Galaxy S25 series with 18GB bonus data for 6 months under smartphone festival data plans, while they can also secure their pre-order at any Gloworld shop with an advance payment of ₦500,000. Pre-ordered phones will be delivered to customers from February 19 onwards.
“We are thrilled to bring this offer to our subscribers, who will enjoy unparalleled benefits, including innovative packaging. This partnership with Samsung reinforces our commitment to providing value-added services that cater to the evolving needs of our customers”.
The company advises other phone lovers who are yet to pre-order the new device to visit any Gloworld outlet close to them and join the list of the new owners of the Samsung S-25 phone before the expiry date.
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Another Gloworld Retail Office Opens in Maiduguri

Technology company, Globacom, on Wednesday opened another Gloworld retail outlet in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri.
The new Gloworld shop is the latest in Globacom’s trademark customer interface shops, and is equipped with the latest technology for fast and efficient customer service and complaints resolution.
According to Mr. Augustine Mamuro, Globacom’s Regional Sales Coordinator, North East, the opening of the centre is in line with its “desire to bring its services closer to the people, create more platforms for customers to have access to Globacom’s wide range of products and services and give them more exciting experience on the network.”
He added that Globacom’s approach to customer service “is one that is underpinned by innovation and total inclusiveness. This is why we are consistently seeking innovative channels to make available our array of services to them”.
Mamuro assured the people of Maiduguri that the office is manned by well-trained, polite and customer-friendly staff who will provide first-class services and attend to customers’ enquiries as well as their service and product needs.
He also said the new shop will offer affordable Glo products, devices, smartphones and accessories, adding, that the people are assured of quick and satisfactory resolutions of all issues ranging from SIM replacement and registration to recovery of over-scratched cards, refill, unblocking of phones and laptop configurations for internet, as well as post paid bill payments and purchase of all Glo and other complementary products”.
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Umar Umar Kadafur, who was the Special Guest at the event, eulogised Globacom for deeming it fit to open a new Gloworld in Maiduguri for the benefit of the people.
He lauded the management of the company for its thoughtfulness in bringing its products and services close to the people of the state.
Featured
I Don’t Belong to Wike’s Camp, Dakuku Peterside Declares

Dakuku Peterside has publicly declared his political leaning in Rivers State, saying he does not belong to the camp of the former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Instead, Peterside, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said he aligns with Wike’s predecessor and estranged former godfather Rotimi Amaechi.
“I am a friend to Rotimi Amaechi,” the former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.
“I am not on the side of Nyesom Wike,” Peterside submitted, adding that he is also not politically aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He, however, said he was ready to provide advice for the incumbent governor on how to move the state forward.
“When Nyesom Wike was governor, recall that I was doing open letters to him consistently, giving him my advice. I did that for some time. If Governor Fubara seeks my advice, of course, I am willing to give that, like many governors,” he said.
Rivers is one of the politically charged states in Nigeria, a situation which could be attributed to the chunk votes and fat purse of the oil-rich state.
Like a coat of many colours, fragmented political camps make up the diverse and intrigue-filled state dominated by pugilists in the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where the incumbent governor belongs.
Leaders of the camps include Wike, a PDP powerbroker and two-term governor of the state from May 2015 to May 2023. Another political gladiator in the state is Amaechi, a former APC presidential hopeful and ex-transport minister who previously governed the state from May 2007 to May 2015.
There are also those loyal to Fubara and former governor Peter Odili; while former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus; Magnus Abe; and Tonye Cole; amongst others, have their die-hard followers too. For over a decade, political crises have been Siamese to the State with followers of the various camps always at loggerheads.
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