The Oluomo of Ile-Ife, Chief Gbenga Owolabi, is dead. he was aged 65
His death was confirmed early on Sunday following a brief illness.
According to a close associate, Mr. Lawrence Omidiora, information was received in the early hours of the day about his deteriorating health condition. Despite efforts to secure urgent medical attention, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His remains have since been deposited at the morgue.
Chief Owolabi was widely regarded as a distinguished businessman, politician, and community leader. He was the proprietor of XELA Hotel and several other business enterprises and was described as cosmopolitan, savvy, kind-hearted, and deeply committed to the progress of Ile-Ife.
In 2007, the late business mogul was conferred with the chieftaincy title Oluomo of the Source, Ile-Ife, by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. His loyalty to the Ife Kingdom and dedication to public service earned him widespread respect across Osun State and beyond.
Politically, Chief Owolabi was a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He served as Chairman of Ife East Local Government Area and was a leading gubernatorial aspirant under the PDP in 2010.
He was also an active member of several elite social clubs, including the Ife Metropolitan Club, Ife Recreation Centre, and the Ikeja Country Club, Lagos. A widely travelled individual and devoted family man, his influence cut across business, politics, and social circles.
Mr. Omidiora described the late Oluomo as “an icon of Ife, a patriot, motivator, and leader whose legacy will endure for generations.”
He is survived by his family, friends, and a grieving Ife community.
