Wednesday, March 16, 2011
[size=14pt]Monarch, wife killed in auto crash[/size]

Tunde Odesola, Osogbo


The Olowu of Orile-Owu, Oba Adesoji Adejobi, and his wife, Funmilayo, died in an auto accident along Gbongan-Ikire road on Tuesday.



http://odili.net/news/source/2011/mar/16/820.html




Investigation showed that Adejobi, who became a monarch in 1981, was preparing to mark his 30th anniversary on the throne before his death.

He was on the way to Osogbo from Orile-Owu when an 18-seater Toyota Hiace had a head-on collision with his Peugeot 406, killing him and his wife on the spot.

Another accident occurred at the same spot 15 minutes later. Two of the seven occupants of a Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle involved in the crash died.

The driver of the monarch who was rushed to an undisclosed hospital, was still receiving treatment as at the time of filing this report.

Confirming both accidents, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Osun State, Mrs Ronke Daniel, said the driver of the 18-seater commercial bus caused the accident that killed the monarch and his wife.

Daniel said, "The commercial bus was driving against traffic. The commercial bus driver caused the accident. Another accident occurred near the same spot 15 minutes after the accident involving the monarch.

"It is unfortunate that many drivers won't heed traffic warnings. How can seven people ride at a break-neck speed in an SUV? Those involved in the SUV lone accident were seven in number and two persons died in the SUV.

"The monarch was riding in a white Peugeot. The commercial bus that caused the accident was Abuja-bound."

A source, who disclosed to our correspondent that Funmilayo was a princess of a ruling house in Gbongan, added that another wife of the late monarch died about three years ago.

Daniel said the SUV, in which two people died, was involved in a lone accident.

The Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, described the late monarch as kind, loving and God-fearing.

Adedapo, who is the South-West representative in the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, added that the Osun State Traditional Council headed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, would miss the wisdom of the monarch.