His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, PhD, Bamigbala I, the Oluoke and Paramount Ruler of Okeigbo Kingdom has joined his ancestors.
The news of his demise was made public this morning at the main market of the town by the Isoros led by Pakoyi (Baba Loja) of Okeigbo Kingdom, Chief Akinbobola Adedigbo.
They immediately commenced the rituals to allow him to have an easy passage to his ancestors.
Oba Babajide was the 17th Ruler and the 6th Oluoke of the town. He was officially presented the staff of office by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON on the 14th of September, 2018.
Oba Lawrence Oluwole Babajide was born on the 23rd of July, 1931 to the family of Bamigbala Oloyede through 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 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 “Okeigbo Tuntun”, a 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 his reign, he facilitated the rehabilitation and reconstruction of kilometres 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, to establish 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 station and quarters. He also approved the reconstruction of a befitting office for the new Okeigbo division for NSCDC.
Kabiyesi in one of his chats with his media team, said he had promised to build a house for God if he was successful in life. He fulfilled his seventy years promise in 2020 when he singlehandedly built a modern hall for the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Okeigbo Zone as Secretariat.
He did not stop at that, he contributed immensely to the reconstruction and beautification of his church, St James Catholic Church, Okeigbo. To crown this, he greatly supported the Muslim community in getting a new Eid praying ground.
He brought honour and glory to his Kingdom in 2022 when he was promoted to the rank of a First Class monarch in Ondo State.
Baba worked for Okeigbo till his last breath on Sunday, 30th April, 2023
Kabiyesi is survived by his beloved wife, Olori Florence Oluremi Babajide, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and lovely sons and daughters of Okeigbo.
Signed:
Hon Prince Alexander Omojadegbe
DG, Oluoke Media
5th May, 2023
