Postmaster General of the Federation Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi on Saturday said the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi was a monarch who came ahead of his time.
Adewusi, in his first reaction to the demise of the referred monarch, also recalled his last encounter less than two months ago.
The Postmaster General said Alaafin was a genius and this was clear to those who had opportunity to be close to him.
He said the late monarch was a deep intellectual whose knowledge of the culture of his people, the tradition, history and the politics and economy of the world was unequaled.
“I think people like him are very rare to come by. Baba Alaafin was a genuis. For some of us who had the opportunity to be close to him, Alaafin radiated uncommon knowledge of global politics and economic development. He had a robust knowledge of the history of Yoruba and beyond. Alaafin read books voraciously and you would require extra efforts to catch up with him. In a way, we can say he came ahead of his time.”
Recalling his last encounter with him, Adewusi said Alaafin even at 83, remained mostly alert mentally and physically.
“Baba spoke with the same clarity in his ideas as we had known him for decades. As a man of many parts, you could expect those reliable words of guidance to issues and you would do well to take to his counseling. It therefore came as a rude shock to learn of his death,” Adewusi stated.
He said his demise is a great loss not just to ancient Oyo town or Oyo State but to Nigeria, Africa and the Black race as a whole.
“We have to acknowledge his eminence as a global citizen. Though rooted and versed in the Yoruba tradition, he was a man of eminence for the whole Black race,” he said.
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