The Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Nigerian boxer who became a king of the prominent Kingdom in South West Oyo state at the age of 31 has died at the 83.
The top Yoruba monarch died in the late hours of Friday, palace officials reported on Saturday that he passed on at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti.
His numerous children, led by Prince ‘Tunde, his first son and palace chiefs received the remains of the influential king early on Saturday.
Traditional and Islamic rites have kicked off for his burial of the king who reigned for 52 years before his demise, making him the longest-reigning Alaafin in the ancient Oyo Kingdom.
The head of the Oyomesi (King makers), Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, who is expectred to brief the state Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde officially, would take over the stool pending the appointment of a new Alaafin.
The King (Oba) was the son of Oba Raji Adeniran Adeyemi (born 1871), who later became Alaafin in 1945 had over 200 wives.
Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and sent into exile in 1954 for having sympathy for the then national political party, National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).
His paternal grandfather was Alaafin Adeyemi I Alowolodu, who ruled during the Kiriji War, and was the last independent ruler of the Oyo Empire before British colonialism.
The Alaafin, a Muslim, succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970 and was crowned on January 14, 1971.
During his reign, Oba Adeyemi permanently chaired the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs and was in 1980, appointed as the Chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto until 1992.
He was married to Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, his senior wife who is supported by a number of junior wives.
The death of the boxer came after that of two other prominent rulers, Soun of Ogbomoso, Mr Jimoh Oyewumi, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji, who died on December 12, 2021, and January 2, 2022, respectively
