Aregbesola: Death of Industrialist Amuda Obelawo At 95 Came As A Shock

Rauf Aregbesola has expressed deep sorrow over the death of renowned industrialist and businessman, Baba Amuda Obelawo, describing the news of his passing at the age of 95 as shocking.

Obelawo, the Ejigbo-born business magnate whose entrepreneurial footprint extended across Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, died on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, bringing to a close a remarkable life defined by enterprise, community leadership and mentorship.

In a statement issued to mourn the late patriarch, Aregbesola said although Obelawo lived to a ripe age, his death still came as a surprise to many who had grown accustomed to his towering presence and influence.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” Aregbesola said, continuing “Baba Amuda Obelawo, the Ejigbo-born industrialist and business magnate, passed on to eternity on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the ripe age of 95. The news of his death came as a shock to many of us, including his family, admirers, and the business community in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and other places where he established an industrial presence.”

According to the former Osun governor, the late Obelawo had become such a permanent and towering figure in the lives of many people that few ever contemplated the possibility of his passing.

“He had become such a permanent towering figure in our collective consciousness that we hardly contemplated his mortality. Nevertheless, we accept his passage as the successful completion of his sojourn on this earthly plane and the fulfillment of Allah’s will,” he wrote.

Aregbesola described the late industrialist as a remarkable personality whose influence cut across business, politics and community leadership, noting that Obelawo served as a mentor and father figure to many.

“Baba was a great leader, an admirable community figure, a successful businessman and industrialist, a father figure to many, a great mentor, and a patriotic statesman,” he stressed.

The former minister of interior also recalled his personal relationship with the deceased, saying Obelawo played an advisory role during his time in public service and remained a consistent source of guidance and encouragement.

“He served as an informal advisor and inspiration to me when I had the privilege of serving the State of Osun as Governor and the nation as a Minister. Until his passing, he continued to offer me the benefit of his wisdom and guidance,” Aregbesola reminiscences.

Reflecting on the late businessman’s hospitality and influence within his political circle, Aregbesola said Obelawo’s residence in Osogbo had become a gathering point for members of the Omoluabi Progressives movement, where discussions on politics, leadership and history often took place.

“Our movement, the Omoluabi Progressives, will deeply miss the periodic gatherings at his residence in Osogbo. During those meetings, we were often regaled with endless stories of his experiences as a budding businessman, a community leader involved in the struggles surrounding the installation of monarchs, the agitation for the creation of Osun State, his life in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and his relationships with several heads of state and local leaders,” he said, adding “Those interactions were always both hilarious and deeply enlightening.”

Aregbesola, who mourned the late patriarch alongside his wife, Sherifat, extended condolences to Obelawo’s family, friends and associates, praying for the repose of his soul.

“Sheri and I mourn the passing of this legend. We commiserate with his wives, children, family members, friends, and admirers, and we extend our deepest condolences to them,” he said.

He also prayed that the memory of the late industrialist would continue to inspire future generations.

“May Baba Amuda Obelawo — the man in whose honour Pa Yusuf Olatunji, the Sakara maestro, recorded a timeless and evergreen musical tribute in his volume 14 album in the late 1960s — awake to joyful activities on the other side of existence,” he said.