Kehinde Adeleye
The Palace of the Late Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka in Isolo hosted a heart-wrenching gathering where members of the Igbo community, particularly those affiliated with the All Progressive Congress (APC), came together to express their condolences to the late Oba’s brother.
The 64-year-old monarch passed away shortly after participating in Eid prayers on Wednesday. Mourning their loss, many spoke of the Late Oba as someone who transcended tribal differences and stood for unity, peace, love, and justice.
They lamented that the Late Agbabiaka’s absence would be deeply felt by all who knew him and urged the future Oba to carry on his vision of inclusivity, unity, and justice. They believed that his legacy of justice was the foundation of the kingdom’s strength, uniting everyone towards the kingdom’s progress.
Echonews reports that Chief Afam Chukuma from Awka Etiti, on behalf of the Ndi Igbo APC Leader, led the Igbo Community in Isolo during a visit on Friday. During the visit, Chukuma expressed to reporters that the Oba is welcoming to Igbos, unbiased, and fair.
His words: “We are here to pay our last respect to the Late Oba of Isolo. The burial took place on Sunday and some of us were here but we came here today to commiserate with the brother as members of Igbo stakeholders in Lagos, Isolo chapter.
“He is a very special man to us, the Oba was very nice to all of us, and his brother too is our very good friend. So we decided to come today, we are Igbo stakeholders that reside in Isolo, Igbo APC, to commiserate specially with the brother.
“We have seen him, we have commiserated with him. He was crying, we consoled him, we told him to be strong because it is only God that gives and takes. We as the living have to honour the dead so we have to plan ahead and we have to keep living.
“Oba was nice to us before his demise, Oba was open to the Igbos, Oba was a detribalised human being, Oba was a man of justice. He wouldn’t know whether you’re an Igbo or Yoruba when it comes to looking into cases, looking into matters.
“He will go for justice; that’s one legacy about him that we will want the next Oba to learn from him. That is one legacy that has sustained this kingdom, which has kept all of us together. We really don’t know the difference between Igbos and Yorubas in terms of our relationship in Isolo. We all live together as brothers; we all live together as one.
“Many times you hear about ethnic crises you won’t hear that much in Isolo because of the way Oba has managed this place. We all loved ourselves so much, we were all loyal to his kingdom and we all lived peacefully with him until his demise. We are mourning but only God knows. What can we do?”
On his part, Chief Afolabi Yegugude, one of the chiefs in the community expressed an unpleasant surprise at the demise of Agbabiaka, lamenting that they were preparing for his 20 years on the throne before he suddenly passed on.
“Today there is no smile on our faces but we thank God that it is God that gives us and takes it back. I can’t believe what has happened from the beginning to now and it is not easy at all because we ought to be celebrating his 20 years on the throne today but now we are conducting his burial ceremony.
“However, we thank God for everything because ‘Kabiyesi’ was a good person in terms of blending everybody together, the Igbos and the Hausas. As a chief myself, I know what ‘Kabiyesi’ was capable of doing in my life and family, even in the community.
“If you enter the community now everywhere is full of sorrow not happiness but we have to conduct the burial ceremony.”
Also speaking, the traditional Prime Minister of Ndi Igbo in Isolo land, High Chief Joshua Amadi, described the Late Oba of Isolo as a good friend of his, saying they were business partners.
“Most of the lands I sold when he was alive I informed him. I cannot sell any land without getting his approval and he will not hesitate. If it is a nice one he will say I should sell. I will go on and sell it, if it is one that is not good, maybe the papers have some encumbrances in it he will tell me not to put my hand in it and I will leave such land. This was how we were playing on,” he disclosed.
Continuing, he said Late Agbabiaka was particularly nice to the Igbo extraction with no ethnic bias of any form; he therefore called on the incoming Oba to emulate him and key into his legacy.
“He was a nice man to Igbos in Lagos, particularly in Isolo. The Late Oba was too good. You won’t even know the difference between the Igbos, Yorubas and other tribes that are staying in Isolo
