•  Describes late Oba Oluwole Babajide as Ambassador of Peace

Okeigbo-born Oil magnate and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Mr. Mathew Oyerinmade fondly called MATO, on Friday, condoled with traditional institution in Ondo State and family members of the late Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, Ph.D., Bamigbala I, the Oluoke and Paramount Ruler of Okeigbo Kingdom, and the entire people of Okeigbo over the death of the traditional ruler.

In a statement made available to the media on Saturday, Oyerinmade said the Oluoke’s demise came at a time when the community needs his wealth of experience and wisdom to consolidate the peace and tranquility he had restored into the community for the progress of Okeigbo and Ondo State in general.

“On behalf of myself, Mr. Mathew Oyerinmade (MATO), family members, friends, political associates, followers, and good people of Okeigbo most heartily condole with the family of the late Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom for the departure of the amiable monarch as he joined his ancestors, and then prayed to God Almighty to give Okeigbo people and his family members the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, MATO said.

According to Hon Prince Alexander Omojadegbe, the Palace Spokesman, “Oba Babajide was the 17th Ruler and the 6th Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom. He was officially presented staff of office on the soil of Okeigbo by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON on the 14th of September 2018.

“The late Kabiyesi was born on July 23, 1931, to the family of Bamigbala Oloyede through the Late Chief Daniel Ayinla Babajide and Late Mama Omiyeni Onidede Babajide both from Aare Traditional Ruling Quarter, Okeigbo

“Kabiyesi used all his life in the service of Okeigbo right from the time he took his first Chieftaincy title as Bobajiro and later Bashorun. He was the chairman of the Okeigbo Central Council (OCC) for many years.

“On his ascension to the throne, his first assignment was to reconcile aggrieved parties through his reconciliation committee and bring Okeigbo people back to the town. He created the “Okeigbo Tuntun” slogan to bring everybody back on track for the beauty and glory of the New Okeigbo. This, really worked as many Okeigbos started constructing edifices in support of Okeigbo Tuntun.

“During this his reign, he facilitated the rehabilitation and reconstruction of kilometers of Okeigbo township roads by the state government and NDDC. His intervention through the state government brought the moribund water corporation of the community back to life.

“Within his short and impactful reign, he saw to the completion of a multi-million naira Palace building.

“For more than ten years, there was no bank in Okeigbo, this made him through his son, established a Micro Finance Bank, LOBREM MFB (the full meaning of the acronym, LOBREM is from Kabiyesi and his Olori’s name; Lawrence Olu Babajide Remi)

“With his role as the chief security officer of Okeigbo, he led the committee to renovate the damaged and vandalised divisional police office and quarter and also approved the reconstruction of a befitting office for the new Okeigbo division for NSCDC and many more”