The Last surviving wife of late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the 49th Ooni of Ife, Olori Arawunmi Dorcas Aderemi is dead.
The Iyaale Akui Royal House, Ile Ife died at 105
Oba Aderemi who reigned as Ooni of Ife for 50 years, was also Nigerian nationalist renowned as the first African governor in the British Empire
In July 1960, Sir Aderemi was appointed Governor of Western Nigeria, a region consisting of the present day Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta and Lagos States
He was installed as the 49th Ooni on September 2, 1930, at the age of 40 and died on July 3, 1980.
Reacting to the news of Olori Aderemi’s demise, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke described the passing of the wife of late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi, Olori Arawunmi Dorcas Aderemi, as a huge loss.
Governor Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson Mallam Rasheed Olawale acknowledged the life of service lived by Olori Dorcas Aderemi, saying that she will be sorely missed for her unwavering dedication to traditions and the royal household.
He notes her liberal nature as evident in combining tradition to her strong Christian faith, saying that as the Iyaale Akui Royal House, a position she was elevated to in 2019, Olori Dorcas Aderemi continued to play a pivotal role in St. Peter’s Anglican Church, in honouring the legacy of his late husband who was involved in its founding.
The Governor condoles the Arole Oduduwa, HIM Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Eniyan, Ojaja I, the Ile-Ife traditional council, the Olori Obas, the immediate family and the people of Ile-Ife for this painful loss of Olori Dorcas Aderemi.
While praying to God to repose her soul and grant her eternal rest, Governor Adeleke urges family left behind to honour Olori Dorcas Aderemi memory by sustaining her legacy of contributions and sacrifices.
