The biblical divine injunction in Ecclesial chapter 3 verse 1 to 2  says

“to everything, there is a season, a time to for every

purpose under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die’. This divine 

assertion came to pass as curtain fell on the 34-years old

reign of the 17th  Ataoja of Osogbo,Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi who breathe

his last on earth on Wednesday August 4th,2010 at an undisclosed hospital in Oshogbo.*

The news of his  death  filtered into the town on following

Thursday morning and was a rude shock as many people

thought he was getting well out of his protracted illness which had confined

him to the palace.*

Dignitaries from all walks of life on last Friday trooped out in large numbers

to pay their last respects for the late  monarch who passed on at the ripe

age of 75years.* The remains  of the  Vice

Chairman Osun state Traditional council of Oba was committed to mother earth

on Friday at 4p.m according to Islamic rites.*

The Christian service for the repose of late traditional ruler  began by

the Christian under the headship of lord Bishop of Osun Anglican diocese;

Reverend James Popoola noted that late monarch was a Muslim but showed love

to every religious group in the town.

His word: “There was religious harmony throughout the period our late royal

father was on the throne. He is one traditional ruler who accommodated

everybody irrespective of religion and where you come from”

Reverend Popoola also noted that death is not a sickness because sickness

can be cured but nothing could be done to stop death, adding that death is

the prime end of any human soul.

He urged people to examine themselves on earth and

every soul should know that God would bring us to judgment whether bad or

good and urged people to live a fear of God life.

Chief Yemi Elebuibon also led the traditional worshipers to pray for the

soul of monarch and prayed that Osogbo would continue to witness development

after the death of late Ataoja.

The chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe  was assisted during the burial  by other

Muslims clerics in the southwest for the burial prayers and rites. In his

sermon, Sheik Ajisafe noted that the town witnessed religious harmony

among the religion groups.

He advised the kingmakers to present another traditional ruler that will

have the fear of God and love the people of the community at heart.

 While speaking with our correspondent on the last moment of the late first

class traditional ruler, one of his Children, Princess Rasidat Oyewale

Afolabi said “Kabiyesi died peacefully and his death came as a shock to us.

He was getting better. He was a loving father. He charged me to be focused

in life and take care of my siblings and to always see Osogbo people as

mine”.

*The dignitaries have been visiting the palace to commiserate with the

wives, children and family members of the late monarch and people of

Osogboland.They were received by the head of the Kingmakers who is

second in command, Chief Gabriel Oparanti.*

 Nigerians have been paying tribute to the late Oba Iyiola

 Oyewale Matanmi 111,the first person to pay tribute was osun state

Governor, Prince Olagunsoye who described the monarch as progressive minded

traditionally ruler during his life time.

Oyinlola in his tribute said “To God be the glory* *for life of service to

humanity. May God grant him eternal rest? We will surely miss his fatherly

and royally advice for the people. Goodnight”*

A renowned human rights activist and newly elected South West Zonal

Coordinator for Anti-Corruption Revolution (ANCOR) which is an arm of

Economic and Financial crime Commission (EFCC), Comrade Amitolu Shittu has

described the recent death of Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi

111, as the end of an era and colossus lost not only to the people of Osogbo

but Africa as a whole. *

*Comrade Shittu who disclosed this while reacting to the death of the first

class monarch stressed that his 34 years of reign has succeeded in putting

the town in the world map.*

*His words: “Late Oba Iyola Oyewale’s reign had brought a lot of

unprecedented transformation of the political, socio-economic and cultural

development to the Osogboland and it may difficult for anybody to match his

record”.*

*Among the developmental infrastructure witnessed during the reign of late

Atajoa and  listed by the Osogbo based human right activist are the

establishment of  Nigeria Machine Tools which is the first in Africa

continent ,Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills company, Osun state University and

Fountain University, others are creation of Osun state with Oshogbo as her

capital in August 27,1991,sitting of Centre for Black Culture and

International Understanding(CIBIU) and registration of Osun Oshogbo Groove

by United Nation Education and Scientific Organization(UNESCO)which is the

6th in the world to accredited by the international organization.*

*He equally said that late Oba Oyewale used the instrumentality of justice

to fight against the oppressor and served as a bridge builder between the

well to do people and poor masses. *

*Shittu who is an anti corruption crusader, and also a National President of

Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People (CDRP) maintained that the

late paramount ruler of ancient town used his position as traditional ruler

to also fight the menace of corruption in our national life and managed

during his illness to received the Osun State steering team of ANCOR in his

palace during a courtesy visit to solicit his support for the crusade.*

* He added that during the visit, the monarch had volunteered to be the

patron of the anti-corruption group, adding that late monarch was waiting

for his investiture when the death took him away.*

*He also described the monarch as the architect of modern Osogbo and he

would forever be remembered for his uncommon absolute loyalty to her people

and community which always have their interest at heart.*

*Comrade Shittu who hails from the town and appointed by the late monarch as

most young member of Council of Elders of the community appeal to the people

to accept the death with good faith and take solace in God. *

*He appeals to the people of the town to forget about their political

affiliation and make sure that the person that would succeed the late Oba

Oyewale is man that have vision for Osogbo because the town still yearning

for more development.*

In the same vein, the Action Congress (AC), Osun state has commiserated with

the good people of Osogbo and on the death of their royal father Oba Iyiola

Matanmi Oyewale whose passage to eternal glory was made public on Thursday.

In a condolence message signed on behalf of the party by its Director of

Research and Strategy, Hon Sunday Akere, Osun AC described the news of the

death of the royal majesty as shocking, unexpected and regrettable.

Hon.Akeere described late Oba Oyewale as a peace loving, caring, progressive

and focused person, and the party said the late royal father will be fondly

remembered for the monumental development Osogbo experienced during his

reign; especially it’s becoming the State capital.

“During the 34years reign of Oba Oyewale, Osogbo turned around from being a

hidden zonal headquarter to become a state capital fashioned for greatness

but whose progress has been bugged down by visionless leaders that

continually milked the state dry. In societies where the rulers cared more

about their subjects health and welfare, a more pragmatic approach would

have been adopted in taking care of Late Oba Oyewale while on his sick bed”,

he said.

State AC also said that the late Oba Oyewale who held the enviable record of

serving the Bola Ige administration in the old Oyo state as a Commissioner

without portfolio ,a position he got purely on merit based on his humane

progressive inclination and which continually reflects in the people of

Osogboland who always pitch their tents with progressive parties

irrespective of the pressure or other unconventional arm-twisting tactics

adopted by the government to cow them or influence their decision.

Osun AC prays to God to give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable

loss while also praying that God will choose for the people a successor who

will make their interest his primary concern and continue the good works the

late Oba started.

In similar development,A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Leo

Awoyemi has condoled with Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the people of

Osogbo on the death of the monarch of the town, Oba Iyiola Oyewole Matanmi

Hon Awoyemi who represents  Osogbo Federal constituency in the House of

Representatives, in a statement described the death of Oba Matanmi as a

great loss to the state and Osogbo community.

He also sent his condolence to the Matanmi family in particular and prayed

God to grant the soul of the departed Oba Aljanah fridaus.

He said the 34 years reign of Oba Matanmi was very beneficial to Osogbo

community witnessed tremendous development under Oba Matanmi stressing that

Osogbo became a state capital and hosts two Universities and a Teaching

Hospital.

"To the glory of God, Osogbo is on the world map as UNESCO in 2005 listed

Osun Osogbo Grove as a World Heritage site just as the world body sited the

category two Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding

(CBCIU) in the town" Awoyemi said.

Chief Adetoyese Olayanju (J.P), the Otun -Gbobaniyi of Osogboland said that

Late Ataoja of Osogbo had done for Oshogbo what Napoleon could not do for

Rome. His legacy on the sands of time would continue to be cherished

In attendance at the monarch’s funeral service are, Senator Iyiola Omisore,

Alhaji Fatai, members of Osun state executive council, Akinbade, prominent

traditional rulers in the state represented by their high chiefs and host of

others.

late Oba Oyewale Matanmi111, was born 75 years ago into the family of Pa

Shittu Amoo Oyewale and Madam Sabitiyu Ajile Oyewale of  Matanmi ruling

house in Osogbo and asumed the throne of his forefathers on july 27th,1976

as 17th traditional ruller of the ancient town.

He had his both primary and secondary  education at St.Adrews Primary school

and st John primary shool ,Ita-Oolokan,both in Osogbo,before proceded to the

Teachers Training college and practiced teaching profession for a while.In

his quest for knowledge,he moved to the Yaba college  Technology,Lagos wher

he studied Accountancy.

Oba Matanmi 111 took professional courses amd managemnet studied at the

universities of Ibadan and Lagos .He also went to Folks

Lynch institute,London.

He had these to his academic records,Graduate and Associate membership

A.C.C.A of Great Britain,Felow Institute of Chartered Accountant of

Nigeria(ICAN), and memeber,nigeria Institute of management(MNIM).

He had his working experience with University of Lagos,Akoka where he rose

to the position of Bursar on Financial planning and Budgetting.oba oyewalw

was also a partner at ogunbajo Okunbule chatered Accountant firm.

He wrote many books to his credit ,among which were,The role of Traditional

Rulers in Nigeria(1981),The role of Traditional Rulers in local Government

Administration (1986).

Oba Oyewale was appointed in Old Oyo State during the Bola Ige Civilian

era as Commissioner without portfolio.

The monarch who reigned for 34years bagged national Honour of Order of

Federal Republic(OFR) of Nigeria in 1982 and order of Niger(CON) in 2004 was

permenent vice chairmanthe state  council of Obas.

The monarch would continue be remebering  for his ingenuity to his people as

literary giant of international repute,Professor Wole soyinka put it in his

book titiled"The Man Died"  quoted what Adolf Joffe wrote to Trosky before

his death by suicide that"Human life has meaning only to that degree and as

long as it is lived in service of humanity which means humanity is

infinite"