The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has commiserated with the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Traditional Council, Olubaban in Council , the immediate family of Oba Saliu Adetunji and all the indigenes and residents of Ibadan land over the demise of his imperial majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland , Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the Aje Ogunguniso 1.
The minister in his message of condolence described the death of Oba Adetunji as a shock to him and a great loss to Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole stating that the Olubadan had been a priceless asset to Yoruba land.
Sunday Dare said he has fond recollections of the late Olubadan as a very warm, sociable, peaceful and progress loving father who was always interested in the growth and progress of people without minding where they come from.
“I personally enjoyed a very cordial and robust relationship with the departed Olubadan. He showed me love and was always ready and thrilled each time I sought to see him. He had even a couple of times invited me to his palace. The one that amazed me most was his reaction when the apex body for Ibadan indigenes across the globe, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) gave me the award of the Most Outstanding Friend of Ibadan. Oba Adetunji did not only call to congratulate me on the award , he was at the award ceremony where he stayed all through the program.
“Oba Adetunji, with his antecedents before he even became the Olubadan , one of which was his successful mentoring and promotion of the legend musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, K1 to stardom depicted him not just as a good father but a profound leader with an uncommon capacity to identify talents and lift them to greatness.