Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Olaniyan, dies after five years on the throne

Daud Olatunji

The Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom in Ogun State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Yisa Olusola Adeniyi Olaniyan, has died after spending over five years on the throne.

PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the first-class monarch, who ascended the throne in August 2020 as the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom and paramount ruler of Ipokia Local Government, passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

He was reportedly 55 years old and preparing to celebrate his sixth coronation anniversary later this year.

Sources within the palace revealed that the monarch had been absent from public engagements and official palace activities for some time, fueling speculation about his health before news of his death filtered into the community.

It is understood that the monarch died following complications from throat surgery, although palace authorities had not yet released an official statement at the time of filing this report.

The news has plunged the ancient city of Ipokia into mourning, with residents and admirers of the monarch expressing sorrow at the development.

Traditional songs, including the solemn refrain, “Oro nla le da,” echoed through parts of the community as sympathizers gathered to mourn the late royal father.

Prior to his accession to the throne, Oba Olaniyan was an entertainment executive based in the United States. He founded Afro-Heritage Entertainment and was the organizer of the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards.

The monarch celebrated his fifth coronation anniversary alongside his 55th birthday in September 2025.

His reign, however, was not without controversy. In 2022, a rival ruling house petitioned the Ogun state government, seeking its suspension pending the resolution of a legal dispute over the stool.

At the time of writing, neither the Ogun State Government nor the Ipokia Traditional Council had officially announced the funeral arrangements or confirmed the cause of death.

Attempts to obtain official confirmation from palace officials were unsuccessful.

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