The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commiserated with the Ibadan Traditional Rulers Council and Oyo Traditional Council on the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

Oba Adetunji, who has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites, died on Sunday at the University College Hospital (UCF), Ibadan, after a brief illness at the age of 93.

However, the ACF, in a statement by its National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Monday, described the late Oba Adetunji as a progressive traditional ruler who brought progress and stability to Ibadan.

Ogbeh, while expressing sadness on the monarch’s demise, said Nigeria would have benefitted much more from his wisdom and stability of character if he had lived on.

The statement read in part: “At the ACF we considered the late Olubadan as a very progressive traditional ruler who brought progress and stability to Ibadan, the headquarters of the defunct Western Region and a very powerful stool in Yoruba land. It did this in a period of five years in office.

“Ibadan is a traditional Yoruba town which has grown to accommodate the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria. It has a pan Nigeria spirit fostered and nurtured by good men such as Olubadan Adetunji.

“We mourn his departure because Nigeria has a lot to learn from him. If he had lived on, we would have benefitted much more from his wisdom and stability of character,” the ACF Chairman stated.

Ogbeh, therefore, prayed that God give the Ibadan Traditional Rulers Council the wisdom to choose a worthy successor to the departed Olubadan.

Similarly, the ACF has expressed its condolence over the death of the presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, who passed away on Monday.

Tofa, who contested against the late MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), died on Monday after an illness.

Reacting to Tofa’s demise, the ACF stated that the former presidential candidate laid the foundation of the Forum and played an advisory role in the affairs of the ACF.

It further described Tofa as national politician and community leader, adding that he was victim of military meddlesomeness in politics as MKO Abiola.

“His participation in the 1993 presidential election as the candidate of the NRC overshadowed all other things he did.

“Whatever happened to that election should not be blamed on him. He was as much a victim of military meddlesomeness in politics as Abiola.

“It is a measure of his good public conduct that he remained calm throughout and never did anything to stir up trouble when the country was almost on fire because of the annulled election,” he said.

The ACF condoled with his family, Kano ACF Chapter, and the Kano State Government.