Former Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has paid a glowing tribute to the legendary industrialist and business magnate, Alhaji Amuda Obelawo, who passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 95.
In a personal statement, Aregbesola described the Ejigbo-born tycoon as a permanent towering figure whose death marks the end of an era in the West African business landscape.
Obelawo, famously immortalized in the late 1960s by Sakara maestro Pa Yusuf Olatunji in his Volume 14 album, established a massive industrial presence spanning Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Aregbesola highlighted the deep personal and political bond he shared with the late businessman, noting that Obelawo served as an informal advisor and a steadfast pillar of support during his tenure as Governor and Minister.
He recalled the enlightening gatherings held at the legend’s Osogbo residence, where members of the Omoluabi Progressives were often regaled with historical accounts of the creation of Osun State and Obelawo’s interactions with various African heads of state.
Extending his condolences alongside his wife, Sherifat, Aregbesola commiserated with the wives, children, and numerous admirers of the late statesman.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the man he affectionately called Arole Lawani, asking that he find peace and joyful activities on the other side of existence.
