Gov. Namadi Sambo
Condoles the family of Nigeria's oldest ruler, Awan
who passes on
Oct 2, 2008THE Kaduna
State government yesterday announced the death of the
nation's oldest traditional ruler, the Chief of Kagoro,
Danladi Gwamna Awan.
He died in the early hours of Tuesday at the
Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) Hospital, Jos
in Plateau State after a protracted illness.
Awan, who ascended the throne as a third class
chief, later rose to become a first-class chief and
reigned for about 60 years.
Also, the Olubadan-in-Council was yesterday thrown
into mourning following the death of the Ashipa
Olubadan, Chief Femi Olukanmi, on Tuesday in a London
hospital.
Olukanmi, 72, died 10 days before his official
installation as the Asipa Olubadan, the fourth in rank
to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana.
Olukanmi, a former board member of the Nigerian
Football Association (NFA) and former chairman of the
3SC Football Club, died of an undisclosed ailment.
Kaduna State Governor, Namadi Sambo, in a statement
by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Umar
Sani, said: "With heavy heart but total submission to
the will of the Almighty God and deep sense of loss,
we regret to announce the passing away to glory of the
oldest monarch in Africa and the Chief of Kagoro,
Danladi Gwamna Awan, Member of the British Empire (MBE)
and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), which sad
event occurred in the early hours of September 30,
2008 at the ECWA Evangelical Hospital Jos, Plateau
State after a protracted illness.
He prayed for the repose of the deceased's soul.
A spokesperson of the Olubadan, Gbade Lana, who
confirmed Olukanmi's death, said the deceased would be
greatly missed.
He said: "His like don't come twice in a lifetime.
It is so sad. He was an illustrious high chief of
Ibadan. His contributions in the Olubadan Advisory
Council will be missed. May God grant his soul eternal
rest."_
Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, in a
statement by his Special Adviser on Public
Communication, Dotun Oyelade, described Olukanmi as a
source of pride to the state who made his mark at
state and national levels.
He said: "At the state and national level, Chief
Olukanmi carved a niche for himself as a sports
administrator who also felt very free to volunteer his
opinion on sports administration in Nigeria boldly.
Oyo State is very proud that we produced a man of such
character."
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