Saliu Adetunji, The Next Olubadan, He Was Promoted 3 Weeks Ago!

 

The death has been announced of the 40th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1. The first-class king, who ascended the throne on Friday, August 17, 2007 at the age of 93, died in his sleep on Tuesday night. His remains have been deposited at the UCH mortuary. With the demise of Oba Odugade, the next high chief to become the Olubadan is the current Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji. Oba Odulana was born April 14, 1914, in Igbo Elerin, Ibadan, to Pa Odulana Ayinla. He began his elementary education at Saint Andrew’s School, Bamigbola, Ibadan in January 1922 and transferred to St. Peter’s School, Aremo, in 1929. He completed his middle school education at Mapo Central School in 1936.

He was an Army officer during the 1939 World War II. After returning from World War II in 1945, he was appointed to be in charge of the demobilisation of returning soldiers in Lagos. He briefly worked with United Africa Company (UAC) as a produce clerk before commencing his teaching career at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Elementary School, Jago, in 1938. He also taught in several schools from 1939 to 1942 and was with the Colonial Office Education Department in 1964.

He went into politics in 1959 as a member of the House of Representatives and was appointed parliamentary secretary to Tafawa Balewa. He was Minster of State for Labour and, in 1964, he led the Nigerian Parliamentary delegation to the London Constitution Conference to restructure the former British colonies of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia). He joined the royal chieftaincy line in 1972 as the Mogaji of Ladunni compound in Ibadan, and in 1976, he was conferred Jagun-Olubadan. He was a co-founder of several organisations such as the Ibadan Economic Foundation and the Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU).

The Balogun of Ibadan who is next in line as Olubadan,High Chief Saliu Adetunji is the founder of 3 foremost music marketing companies known as Omo Aje Sound Studio, Adetunji Label and Baba Laje Records. Adetunji's company markets Fuji maestro K1's music. The recently-elevated Adetunji became Mogaji (the head of the family) in 1976. He became Jagun Balogun (the first line on the Balogun rung) in 1978! He is now over 80 years old.