On Friday, mourners and sympathizers from various backgrounds and walks of life gathered at the Alarere residence of the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, to offer condolences to the immediate family following the monarch’s passing.

The visitors were being received by the wife of the late monarch, Olori Funmilayo alongside other family members.

The visitors who take their time to fill the condolence register, all lauded the late Olubadan on his impact on the ancient city and the state as a whole.

The Nation observed that the Alarere residence was devoid of its usual fanfare and heavy activities as many sympathisers at the residence were seen seated in clusters exchanging chit-chat.

While many were recounting their last encounter with the monarch, others were full of stories of impact made on them by the late Olubadan.

Security operatives including uniformed police officers were seen in large number at the residence as gloomy and sadness enveloped the residence.

The early callers, including, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prince Abioye Asanike said the late Olubadan, being so educated took control of city, the elites and managed the city very well.

He said: “What I can just say about the late Olubadan is that after the demise of our former Olubadan Soliu Adetunji, Oba Balogun, being an educated person took control of the city, controlled of the elites and managed the city very well.

“He did very well and I thought he was going to be the one to move to the new palace because he inspected the palace recently thinking that he will move there.”

Another early caller, the President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigene, (CCII), Adeniyi Ajewole who led top members of the Council on the condolence visit said it was painful that the late Olubadan could not occupy the almost completed Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo despite inspecting it recently.

Ajewole said Oba Balogun, as a Senator, schoolar and indigene of Ibadanland, contributed immensely to the completion of Olubadan palace, adding that CCII thought he would be the first king to adorn the palace, but for his short reign.

The CCII PG said though the reign lasted just 2years and three days, Ibadanland would always remember him for peace and the unprecedented development witnessed in the ancient city during his reign.

Other early callers who as at Friday had signed the condolence register include: the Oyo mesial, the Senator representing Oyo Central, Dr Yunus Akintunde, Oyo State PDP Women Leader, Alhaja Wulemot Ibitoye, NSCDC Egbeda Division, Oba Sabo-Ibadan, Alhaji Ali Dahiru Zungeru and a foremost media practitioner, Yinka Fabowale.

Oba Olalekan Balogun who was presented the staff of office by Governor Seyi Makinde, on March 11, 2022, joined his ancestors late Thursday night at age 81.

As at the time of this report, many of the sympathisers were already heading to the Mapo Hall, where the late monarch would be laid-in-state before being laid to rest at his Aliiwo ancestral home, Ibadan.