YCE deputy chairman passes on at 96

Elder statesman and the Deputy Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders, High Chief Joel Ehinafe Babatola, has died at the age of 96.

Babatola, who is the Olora of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, according to a statement signed by Alhaji Liasu Olaseni, the Elerebi Olora; Ebun Obafemi, Chief Babatola’s first child; and Jadesola Babatola, and made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, “passed away in the early hours of Monday, 24th November in Ado Ekiti.”

Chief Babatola, who was a member of Egbe Omo Oduduwa and a founding member of the defunct Action Group and the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, also served as a Regional Minister for Justice in charge of Customary Courts, Premier’s Office, Home Affairs, Information and Labour in Western Nigeria’s government under Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The late Chief Babatola was also an acting Principal of Ibadan Grammar School, Oyo State and was also a Commissioner representing Ekiti Division in Western State of Nigeria and a former National President of the Cooperative Movement of Nigeria.

On why the formal announcement of his death was delayed, the statement explained that “as a high-ranking member of the Ewi’s cabinet and a natural ruler of Ora community of Ado Ekiti, the family was bound by Ado customs to delay the announcement of his demise until the Ewi of Ado Ekiti and the Ewi-in-Council were officially informed”.