By Stephen Adeleye.
His Royal Higness (HRH) Oba Jacob Ajayi Mejedi, the Ajugbonjagun of Orokere Amuro, Mopamuro Local Government Area in Kogi State has died at the age of 75 years.
The President of Orokere Welfare Association (OWA), Pastor Moses Anjorin, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Monday, said that Mejedi died after a brief illness at his Orokere hometown in Mopamuro LGA in the evening of July 14.
The OWA President described the death of the Orokere Traditional Ruler, as a great loss to the people of Orokere Amuro, Mopamuro LGA, and the entire Kogi State at large.
”With deep sorrow and a heart filled with grief, we announced the demise of the Ajugbonjagun of Orokere Amuro, Oba Jacob Mejedi whose sad event occurred in the evening of Sunday, July 14.
”I want to use this medium to thank everyone who had in one way or the other supported us during his brief illness (though not make public anyway).
”You’ve done your best to save his life but it pleases His maker to call him home. We should just console ourselves and think for a way forward for the community.
”His reign for 14 years had really brought relatively peace and development to the community.
”His wealth of experiences he brought to bare in governing the affairs of the community.
”It’s on this note, I on behalf of the entire OWA excos and the good people of the land declared a seven days of mourning for our king,” Anjorin said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oba Jacob Mejedi, 75, ascended the throne on August 20, 2005, and died on July 14, 2019.
In his condolence massage, a former Lawmaker, Mopamuro State Constituency, Kogi Assembly, Commodore Folusho Daniel rtd, described the monarch’s death as ”one death too many for all the sons and daughters of Orokere at home and in diaspora”.
According to him, Oba Mejedi was a self made man who through personal efforts, self determination and faith in God struggled through life to rise from grass to grace.
”His early life was full of bitter challenges but he overcame through hard work, uncommonly courage, will-power to succeed and the Grace of God.
“When the righteous reigns, the people rejoice; Such was the description of the reign of Oba Mejedi.
”His reign transformed Orokere from a rural setting to a modern one; witnessed huge infrastructural development, social integration, peace and tranquility,” he said.
Daniel stressed that the late monarch, reigned in Orokere with honesty, integrity and above all, the fear of God Almighty, and did his very best for Orokere.
”He came, he saw and he conquered. He laid his life down for his people. Orokere will never forget the life and times of HRM Oba Mejedi for good.
”As we mourn the passing away of our King, we pray that God will grant his immediate and extended families and Orokere community the courage, the grace, the strength and the fortitude to bear this great loss,” Daniel said.
In the same vein, a member representing Mopamuro Constituency in Kogi House of Assembly, Mr Demola Bello, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families, Mopamuro Traditional Council, and the entire good people of Orokere Amuro on the demise of their King.
”As a politician that have had many encounter with the royal father, I saw an all-round intelligent man, educated, honest in his opinions and a man who loved his subjects and community with undiluted passion. His was a peaceful reign.
”Oba Mejedi would surely be remembered for the good work and legacies of a principled life of honesty.
”I wish the family and the entire Orokere Amuro community the fortitude to bear this loss,” Bello said.
