Departed Deji Never Worshipped Idols

Facts have emerged that the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, despite being the custodian of Akure's customs and traditions never worshipped traditional gods throughout his three-year reign.

Palace sources confirmed that although the departed Oba Adesida was a profound lover of Yoruba culture and tradition, he never personally worshipped any Yoruba traditional god.

"He was a good Christian although he believed so much in Yoruba tradition. He was a traditionalist, but he never worshipped any idol till he died," a palace source said.

Although his reign was short-lived, palace staff and family members testified that their lives were touched by the Deji within the short period of his rule.

The source said, "He never opposed performance of traditional rites of any kind. Whenever there was need for the people to offer sacrifices, he was willing to give whatever was required, but he never brought himself to worshiping any idol.

"If you have things to do in form of sacrifices, he could give money for it, but he will not follow you there – at least for Akure to have peace and for things to go on well."

But the worst hit by the monarch's death were the immediate staff including his drivers and other lower officials of the court.

Two of them are old men who came to the palace in 1942 and 1946 respectively.

Their weeping over the Deji's death suggested how devastated they have been since the news of the death of the death of the Oba became known.'Departed Deji never worshipped idols'