Eleyinmi Exits

The procedure was also followed when the Balogun of Ode Remo, Aare Kola Oyefeso, made the announcement and declared the beginning of the burial rites for the departed royal father at the palace of the Eleposo of Eposo, Oba Ayoola Ademasa Sonoiki, Lodo Meri II. “This is the traditional announcement of the death of Oba Adeolu,” Aare Oyefeso said. He praised the monarch for his exemplary life. According to him, “death is only a deception as it is just a transformation. He had a fulfilled life; he had a fulfilled mission. The wisdom we got from him, we will not get again. The advice we got from him, we will not get again. We will miss him greatly.”

Tributes also came from other traditional rulers and chiefs like Oba Sonoiki who described Adeolu’s death as a big loss. Although he acknowledged that the monarch lived a fulfilled and worthy life, his exit is nevertheless, regrettable. “Who will say his death is not painful? Is it those he was paying their children’s school fees or those that were ill that he took to the hospital or those he housed and fed?” Sonoiki asked.

In the same vein, the Ogun State government, in a condolence message signed by Kayode Samuel, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, on behalf of Governor Gbenga Daniel, described Adeolu’s death as a great loss, not only to the traditional institution but also to the entire arts community.

“Oba Adeolu was a great king. He loved his people and contributed significantly to the development of the society all through his journey through life. We note with satisfaction his sparkling contributions to the development of Nigerian modern drama. He was a colossus in the drama genre, a cultural icon of no mean standing and a traditional ruler par excellence. Oba Adeolu, through his role as Chief Eleyinmi in the now rested television series, The Village Headmaster, showed his rich talent, distinguished himself and brought happiness to many homes across the country. The government and people of Ogun State will surely miss him,” Samuel said.

But his friends and colleagues in the Theatre will even miss him more, particularly the cast and crew of The Village Headmaster. Ambassador Segun Olusola, creator of the defunct television drama and a personal friend of the late monarch, recalled the great moments they both shared; his excellent work ethics, his friendly disposition and kindness, virtues that are not easily found in an individual. Olusola told TheNEWS that Adeolu was actually more than what people saw on the screen. “He was a gentleman and a great son of Africa. When he was made an Oba, we thought being a traditional ruler would limit him and further restrict him from interacting with us. But he never left his roots with the theatre practitioners. A few years ago, we all gathered and planned the return of The Village Headmaster at Iperu Remo, but unfortunately, if the drama eventually returns, he will be missing on set.”

But Olusola who remembered the creative things they both did together in their younger days thanked God for his great life and prayed the Almighty to receive him. Among the new generation of actors, Adeolu is equally held in high esteem. Tunji Sotimirin, actor and lecturer at the Creative Arts Department, University of Lagos, described him as a very pleasant man who was highly respected among The Village Headmaster cast and crew. He also recalled how the royal father took care of his medical bills when he was in involved in a motor accident at Ogere, Ogun State, some years ago. Aside the role of Eleyinmi for which he was well known, Adeolu also played Ezeugo in the adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

The departed monarch actually began his adult life as a physical education instructor at Kings College, Lagos. A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and London School of Journalism, Adeolu also served as Senior Inspector of Education before finally leaving the Ministry of Education, in 1968. He later worked with Texaco Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and Nigerian Television Authority from where he retired into private business. A recipient of the Order of the Niger, OON, Funso Adeolu will be greatly missed.