By GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO—the Iloko-Ijesa community in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State has declared seven- day mourning in honour of the late Owaloko of Iloko- Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore, who died last Friday in London.

Risa of Iloko-Ijesa, also Vice-Chairman, Iloko-Ijesa Traditional Council, Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, said the late monarch deserved the honour considering his contributions to the development of the town before and during his reign.

He said the death of the monarch has created a vacuum which would be difficult to fill, stressing that the community was devastated by his death.

He said  the community had commenced consultations with the immediate family of the late monarch, the state Council of Traditional Rulers and the state government on the funeral rites of Oba Olashore, noting that details of his final funeral would be made public after the consultations.

The Ijesa chief hinted that the authorities of Oriade Local Government were also making consultations with the community to give the late traditional ruler a befitting burial.

Ogunsanya described the late Oba Olashore as a lover of his community who dedicated his life to the development of his town throughout his life, saying “his love for the community was unusual. He had many of his investments here in Iloko. He gave a great name to Iloko even at international level with the establishment of Olashore International College in Iloko-Ijesa. We shall forever miss him.”

The late Oba Olashore, who died last Friday in a London hospital at the age of 77, was a former Minister of Finance and a former managing director of First Bank Nigeria Plc.