People of Olayinka Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have held a final funeral for their monarch, Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, who was abducted by terrorists from his residence in Olayinka on April 28, 2026 but never returned alive.
Sympathisers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others, gathered last weekend at Igbomina House in Ilorin to celebrate the departed monarch who was installed as the Asamu of Olayinka on June 28, 2009.
Various communities had also held prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed monarch in Olayinka, Agbeku and Ilorin before the final funeral in Igbomina House Ilorin last Saturday.
The speakers poured encomiums on the 63-year-old late monarch who was commended for his efforts to develop his community before the tragic death.
The Alagbeku of Agbeku, Oba Sola Agboola,who was upgraded to fourth class with the deceased and Alagunji of Agunjin, said he represented no fewer than 60 monarchs who are members of Ifelodun traditional council.
“Our members are seriously agonising over the incident and that’s why they couldn’t attend this programme, otherwise this hall would not have accommodated us all. Three of us, after we were upgraded to fourth class, were working on the development plan for our communities when the tragic death occurred.” he said. The monarch also commended Muslim and Christian leaders for their untiring prayers, saying the tragedy would have been far more than what was witnessed.
The Chief Imam of Olayinka, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Opeloyeru, told the gathering that though they gathered to pray, he believed that what happened to the late monarch was known to Almighty God.
We have no option than to still pray to Almighty Allah to grant the late monarch eternal rest for all his good deeds”. Head of Christian community, Elder Stephen described the late monarch as “a honest and truthful man who was very hardworking and never begged anyone for money or assistance”.
In his lecture, Ibrahim from Olayinka Ilenla, urged leaders to be just and fair in their responsibilities to their subjects. He said any good leader should be playing the role of a servant leader to the subjects, noting that this was aptly demonstrated by the late monarch. “We love him but almighty Allah loves him most and called him unto himself. So, I want to admonish us to emulate his selfless lifestyle till his point of death.”he said
Pastor Adubi of Living Faith Church, in Olayinka told the gathering of a vision of population explosion and of adequate security for the Olayinka community.
The Chairman, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Alhaji Femi Yusuf, described the monarch’s death as tragic, devastating and unbelievable, saying that it took him some time to realise that he was truly no more because of their closeness.
Yusuf also tasked residents of the community and indeed the local government to key into the series of efforts of the state and Federal governments to rid Kwara South of terrorist attacks.
“I want to urge people of Olayinka and other communities to go back home because security has been put in place to secure those who are at home.” he added.
