By Sade Adewale
The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olayide Adelami, has paid glowing tribute to the late Oloba of Oba-Ile, Oba Dr Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade, describing him as a monarch committed to peace, community development and investment in people.
Adelami gave the tribute on Saturday during the One-Year Remembrance and Thanksgiving Service held in honour of the late traditional ruler at St John’s Anglican Church, Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He said the late monarch’s nearly four decades on the throne brought unity, healing and stability to the ancient town after years of internal crisis and division.
According to him, “Oba Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade was indeed a unifier. His almost four decades’ reign brought lasting peace, healing, reconciliation, and stability to Oba-Ile and set it on the path of prosperity.”
He added that the monarch’s calm disposition, humility, courage and level-headed leadership enabled him to withstand challenges while fostering harmony across the community.
Adelami also commended the developmental strides recorded in Oba-Ile during the reign of the late king, noting that the town witnessed significant economic growth, infrastructural expansion and human capital development.
In his sermon, the officiating priest described the late monarch as a God-fearing traditional ruler who used his throne to advance the gospel and promote moral values within the community.
The late Oloba was the father of the Head of Protocol Unit in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Prince Kehinde Agunbiade.
The remembrance service attracted several dignitaries and traditional rulers from within and outside Ondo State, including the Deji of Akure, Sen Niyi Adegbomire, former Heads of Service Kayode Ogundele and Kosemani Kolawole, among others.