The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III has died at 95. Oba Jimoh was born into the family of Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade II and Ayaba Seliat Olatundun Oyewumi, he ascended the throne on October 24, 1973.
Prior to the late Soun of Ogbomoso ascension to the throne, he was an already made businessman. He established a limited liability company called J.O. Oyewumi and Co Nigeria Ltd in 1967 which specialised in wholesale and retail trading, before evolving into real estate and hospitality business, from whence Terminus Hotel and El-Duniya Hotel in Jos were established. He was renowned for the building of a modern palace, having netted a mud palace after his coronation.
He attended St. Patrick Primary School, Oke Padre, Ibadan from 1932-1938 and thereafter proceeded to the Ogbomoso People’s Institute, which was later changed to Ogbomoso Grammar School.
Governor Seyi Makinde while expressing his condolences to the monarch’s immediate family, the people of Ogbomoso and the Oyo State Council of Obas, described his death as a huge loss to the kingdom, the State and humanity in general.
According to the governor via a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adisa, “I received the news of the passage unto the glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland with shock,
“Though Kabiyesi lived up to the age 95, his death at this time is still a huge loss to the state and the traditional institution, because he has created a vacuum not only in Ogbomosoland but also in the entire state and the nation.
“In Kabiyesi, we had a quintessential monarch, who lived and worked for peace and development. In his years on the throne of his forebears, Oba Oyewumi made a lasting impact on Ogbomosoland and by extension Oyo State.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Oyo State Government, I hereby express our heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the departed monarch and the people of Ogbomosoland.
“I also commiserate with the Oyo State Council Obas, which has lost a prominent member in Oba Oyewumi.
“It is my prayer that God grants Kabiyesi Aljanah Firdaus and also grant everyone the fortitude to bear this loss.”
