Oba (Dr) Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, Bamigbala I, the Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government has joined his ancestors.
The news which 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 announced the passage of Oluoke to the world beyond.
They immediately commenced the rituals to take place to allow him to have easy passage to his ancestors.
Oba Babajide was the 17th ruler and the 6th Oluoke of the town. He was officially presented staff of office on the soil of Okeigbo by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON on the 14th September, 2018.
Oba Lawrence Oluwole Babajide was born on the 23rd 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.
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, established 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 chief security officer of Okeigbo, he led the committee to renovate the damaged and vandalised divisional police office and quarter and also approved reconstruction of a befitting office for the new Okeigbo division for NSCDC.
He brought honour and glory to his Kingdom in 2022 when he was promoted to the rank of 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.
