Onilua of Ilua, Samuel Durodola Afolabi, whose age was recorded as Nigeria’s oldest king at 141 years of age has joined his ancestors.
The death of the centenarian threw residents of the community situated in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State into mourning.
The monarch, who is believed to be the oldest in the inland state of Oyo in south-western Nigeria, joined his ancestors on the morning of Saturday, May 23.
Born in 1879 during the reign of Adeyemi 1 of Alowolodu, who was the last independent Alaafin to rule the Oyo Empire, little is known about Afolabi’s younger years in the public domain. However, it’s reported that the late monarch was a modest farmer, who traded his produce at Arigidana, Baba Ode in Itesiwaju Local Government Area before he was called to occupy the throne after the demise of Oba Majaro in 1981 through the unanimous consent of the kingmakers.
He was 102 years old when he became the king in the rock city. Throughout his 39-year reign, Afolabi didn’t steal the spotlight but contributed greatly to the growth and development of Ilualand. The monarch was said to have died of age-related illness
