Oluyara, prominent Kogi monarch, is dead

Tributes pour in

A prominent traditional ruler in Kogi State and the Eleta Oluyara of Iyara, Oba Jacob Meduteni, is dead.

The President of the Iyara Development Association, Dr Aliyu Badaki, in a press statement, announced the death of the second-class monarch.

He said Oba Meduteni passed away in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 76 after a protracted illness.

The community leader said his demise has thrown sons and daughters of the community, both at home and in the diaspora, into mourning as his reign was blissful and remarkable.

Oba Meduteni was appointed Eleta Oluyara on July 24, 2023, as a third-class chief by former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the stool was upgraded to second-class status shortly afterwards, on September 26, 2023.

His coronation and presentation of the staff of office followed on Saturday, December 23, 2023, and the community has enjoyed relative peace under his reign.

Meanwhile, tributes have started pouring in for the late monarch, with Senator Smart Adeyemi expressing deep sorrow and depression over the passage of the Eleta Oluyara of Iyara, Oba Jacob Meduteni.

Senator Adeyemi, who is also an indigene of Iyara, said the death of the highly revered monarch has left a sour void in his heart and has completely broken down his spirit.

According to a press statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, he said Oba Meduteni was a complete gentleman, God-fearing, and a highly accommodating traditional ruler who continually sought the peace and progress of all.

In his words:

“The death of our revered paramount ruler was a personal loss to me. I’m soul-depressed and shocked. He was a kind-hearted, loving, and God-fearing Oba.

“He was committed to the overall development of the town, a peace lover who sought the peace and progress of all. He was highly accommodating, very passionate for the development of Iyara, and a highly compassionate traditional ruler.

“We will sorely miss his wise counsel, profound native intelligence, and deep knowledge of our cultural heritage which he usually exhibited, and the fatherly roles he was always playing.

“On behalf of myself and my immediate family, we commiserate with our good people of Ijumu Local Government, specifically the Iyara community, and the family of the late Oba, and pray to God to grant him paradise in His kingdom,” the statement added.