Few days ago, the Onila of Ila Odo, Oba Benjamin Ajibade Abiona was buried in his town in the open glare of community people, in the presence of his biological sons and daughters, and family members, with Pastors holding sway at his funerals. Oba Abiona, apart from being a Christian was an ordained Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church.
For a number of reasons, many Christians are averse to taking up traditional titles in their various places of birth due to what they tag as fetish or many practices associated with the title. It is believed that many of the practices involved are shrouded in secrecy and Christians often run away from becoming the traditional rulers in their home communities.
Specifically many things like occultic practices are also known to be associated with the selection, inauguration and burial of traditional rulers in Yorubaland, and for these reasons Christians are often advised not to take up traditional titles.
Few days ago, the Onila of Ila Odo, Oba Benjamin Ajibade Abiona was buried in his town in the open glare of community people, in the presence of his biological sons and daughters, and family members, with Pastors holding sway at his funerals. Oba Abiona, apart from being a Christian was an ordained Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church.
Against the belief that the burial of the traditional ruler would be handled by traditionalists, members of the occult, Oba Pastor Abiona’s burial was openly handled by Pastors drawn from his own Church, and others from other denominations to give him a befitting burial.
His burial would be seen as a lesson to many other Christians who would like to take up the traditional titles of their forebears.
Earlier, Oba Abiona had reasoned that there was no reason why Christians cannot contest for the position of Obaship in their towns and communities. It is on record that the first president of Christ Apostolic Church, Pastor Isaac Babalola Akinyele was a traditional ruler of Ibadan. He reigned as the Olubadan of Ibadanland in his days.
In contemporary days, many Christians have been installed and crowned as traditional rulers, and living up to maintain a balance between traditions and their faiths has always been a tug of war.
In some communities, traditionalists have risen against the dominance of the rulers with what is called the foreign religion of the traditional rulers being Christians or Muslims as the case may be.
Oba Abiona, while alive, succinctly put it in various engagements with him that the line of understanding must be drawn between the members of the community and the traditional ruler.
In his own case he told his people that he would not join them to serve or worship idols, and during his short reign everybody knew and identified him as a pastor, and therefore nobody came to present to him any request to join them in worshipping idols.
This was attested to during his wake keep, as members of his traditional council testified in their tributes that he never joined them to serve any idol or engaged in any spiritual uncleanliness. “Oba Abiona was committed to his God till his very end,” they confirmed.
With the example laid by Oba Abiona, it is very clear that reputable Christians can bid, contest and win the coveted seats in their communities as traditional rulers, without compromising their faith.
But in some communities, it is believed it is not easy for any traditional ruler to stick to one faith. It is believed that a traditional ruler must be able to spread his interests into various social, cultural and religious interests of his people.
Like a traditional ruler is not expected to profess a political party, a traditional ruler is not also expected to be attached to one religious faith. He is expected to join Christians, Muslims and even in some cases lead traditionalists when they want to worship and serve their Gods.
And so Oba Benjamin Ajibade Abiona, Ilufemiloye 1, lived a pious life, served his God and was buried in his palatial compound in Ila Odo on Friday, May 16, 2025 in the presence of members of his family and in the open glare of the community. The funerals were supervised by ordained Pastors from within and outside Christ Apostolic Church worldwide.
The burial rites started in the Church planted by him under the umbrella of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC Oke Iyanu, Dopemu, in Lagos on Tuesday May 13, 2025. It was followed on Wednesday as the burial train later moved to Ila Odo, Osun State with an Interdenominational/Interreligious Prayer Service at the Proposed Town Hall Site, Beside Winners’ Chapel of the Ila Odo Community.
The body of Oba Abiona was received from Inisha Mortuary to Ila Odo with a Town Parade and Lying-in-State on Thursday, from 11.00am to 2.00pm, and this was followed by the Christian Wake Keep, same day at Oba’s Palace, Ireti Quarters, Along Erin Ile Road from 3.30 to 6.00pm.
The Interment Service was held at the Oba’s compound on Friday 16th May, 2025 from 8.30 am. Outing and thanksgiving service took place at CAC Oke Igbala District headquarters in Ila Odo. It was rounded off with the entertainment of guests at Ila Odo Community High School Playing Ground, Ila Odo same day.
As expected, the thanksgiving service and reception were attended by Nigerians, and sons and daughters of Ila Odo, government representatives, ordained pastors, as well as fellow traditional rulers.
Among the list of the dignitaries was the representative of the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke represented by Hon. Adebola Adeniran, Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Development.
It was also graced by the Olona of Ada, as well as representatives of the traditional rulers in the neighbouring communities, of Okuku, Inisa, Ijabe, Oyan, Okua, Ekusa, Asi, Igbaye and a host of others.
Among the clerics were past and present pastors who served under Oba Abiona as a Pastor, including Pastor Olaosebikan from Efon Alaye, Pastor S.A. Olaiya, Ikirun DCC Superintendent, Pastor Hosea Opayemi, Pastor J.O. Alade, Pastor J. B. Komolafe, Pastor Olu Omonije, and Pastors
Kehinde Daramola, Michael Omo Are, Sam Adeoti, and Dr. Michael Oni from Lagos State.
Oba Benjamin Ajibade Abiona according to the Asiwaju of Ila Odo, High Chief Adebayo Adewale Babalola ruled Ila Odo for a remarkable period of “four years, four months, and four days.”
The various tributes recorded in memory of the amiable traditional ruler point to a man of integrity, a passionate lover of his home town, Ila Odo and environs, a lover of God, as well as a lover of Nigeria.
Oba Abiona during his lifetime began his humble life as a teacher, trained and practised as a management accountant, an ordained minister of the gospel and finally as a traditional ruler. He lived a life of excellent service delivery in all areas where he found himself.
It was on record that the birth of young Abiona was prophesied by the first General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church, the highly revered Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, and he sat on the laps of the founding fathers of the Church, Pastor I. B. Akinyele, the first President who was also a traditional ruler, and Pastor Odubanjo, the General Superintendent, who were guests of his father Elder Joshua Adunoye Abiona in Ila Odo, then when he was a baby.
Before he ascended the throne, young Abiona had attended the Birmingham College of Commerce where he studied Business Management and Accountancy. He worked at Chellarams Department Store as a Senior Manager, and later at Midland Stores in Ilorin, old Kwara State, before he established his own business.
He yielded to the call of God and was ordained a Pastor in CAC where he planted CAC Oke Iyanu Dopemu which has become a district headquarters, with many branches under it. His records of life achievements were later crowned by God who elevated him to the position of the Paramount King of Ila Odo, in what he called a prophecy fulfilled.
Within his short reign in Ila Odo he was able to revive many institutions that were regarded as dead, such as Ila Odo Day which has been used to attract many sons and daughters back to the town, he was instrumental in provision of infrastructure like good township roads, solar power and other programmes that could bring the Ila Odo community to global lime light.
His short reign was regarded as a period of laying a fresh foundation for Ila Odo Community, and a moment of rebuilding the wall of the rusty community.
To all sons and daughters of Ila Odo, there is no doubt that his sudden departure would be felt, it was no surprise that sessions of fervent prayers were held to see another eminent leader emerge to continue with the good works started by Oba Benjamin Ajibade Abiona Ilufemiloye 1.
Oba Abiona was married to the wife of his youth and a princess of Ada Community, Rev. Mrs. Christiana Monilola Abiona who died in 1996. On assumption of the position of the Onila of Ila Odo, he married Olori Ruth Oluwatoyin Abiona.
Oba Abiona was survived by Olori Abiona, and many wonderful children and grandchildren who are doing marvelously well in their chosen careers in different parts of the world.
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