Barely six days after 15 persons were killed in an auto crash in Iworoko Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State,the monarch of the town, Oba Michael Oluwafemi Aladejana, has passed on.
Aladejana, who was in his 80’s died at the early hour of Wednesday at an undisclosed hospital in Ado Ekiti, the capital city.
Alawaroko oba is ranked second class in Ekiti traditional hierarchical order.
In the accident involving a trailer that carried branded rice of the Senator representing Ondo Central, Mr. Tayo Alasoadura on Saturday, 15 persons, including a yet to be identified youth corps member, were killed by the truck.
More than four houses and adjoining lock-up-shops were also destroyed as the trailer swerved off the road and entered a busy night market.
The driver of the trailer had lost control of the heavy duty truck that lost its brake suddenly, which made the vehicle to ram into a mini market located within the heart of the town.
News filtered into town at about 8am on Wednesday that the long-reigning monarch had died.
When journalists visited the town around 1pm, the traditional rites had already begun with the cutting of the trees and blockage of the dual carriage Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki highway as a way of paying last respect to the departed king.
The youths and other age groups also trooped to the streets, killing house pets like goats and sheep sighted roaming about as the tradition demands.
One of the prominent indigenes of the town, who craved anonymity, said the accident which claimed 15 lives and injured four had worsened the health situation of the monarch.
“Our monarch was rushed to the hospital after the accident. Though, he had been having health issue before but that incident really made the situation worse for him.
“When the news got to the town, he was said to have felt so devastated and the family had to rush him to the hospital early on Sunday.
“The sickness was said to have improved on Monday before it relapsed on Tuesday, causing his untimely death”, the source said.
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