Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi died on Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital.
Born on October 15, 1938, the late king was the son of Oba Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and sent into exile in 1954 for having sympathy for the National Council of Nigerian Citizens.
Below is his last official statement signed by his spokesman Oladotun Oladele where he addressed Christians and Muslims on April 3.
The statement read, “On behalf of His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin Oba Adeyemi III , Ayabas, Princes, Princesses, Oyomesi as we have all joined the world and all faithfuls of the Christian and Muslim faiths in these months of fasting and prayer to God, it is important that we all at this moment emphasize more on what binds us together as a people and a nation. For every problem(s) we face in life, we need to bear this in our minds that the problem(s) will go, because there is an expiry date attached to it, we need to have hope and faith that we will outlive every problem(s) that face us as individuals or as a nation.
“What does not kill us makes us stronger. Many things are going on in this nation, we all have our parts to play and we will continue to play that part irrespective of whether it is popular or not but as citizens as we all play our part in this nation whether from within or without, let us remember, this is the nation given to us by God and it is our duty to work it while praying for it.
“To the Christian faithfuls who are fasting and the Muslims may God answer all our prayers for good for this nation. God bless Nigeria.”
