Father of a renowned journalist based in Ondo State, Prince Kunle Ariyo, is dead.
The deceased who was the Olori Omowa of Isinkan community of Akure in Akure South Local Government Area of the state, Pa Durojaye Ariyo, died at the age of 110.
Kunle Ariyo, who confirmed his father’s death said he passed away in the early hours of Monday at his residence in Isinkan.
According him, the Isinkan community has been thrown into mourning following his father’s death.
He said that Pa Ariyo’s death marks the end of an era for the ancient community, where he served as a revered custodian of tradition and royal lineage.
Until his death, Pa Ariyo held the traditional title of Olori Omowa, the head of Princes and Princesses in the Isinkan Kingdom.
The position placed him at the heart of the town’s royal structure, with responsibilities including the preservation of ancestral history, guidance of royal households, and safeguarding of Isinkan customs and values.
He was widely respected for his deep knowledge of Isinkan’s oral history and for his role in mentoring younger generations on matters of culture, identity, and communal harmony.
Reacting to the passing, Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula, the Iralepo of Isinkan, described Pa Durojaye Ariyo as a “bonafide prince of Isinkan” and thanked God for a life well lived.
In a statement addressed to the Omowa of Isinkan and the entire Isinkan community, the monarch said: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Olori Omowa Iralepo Isinkan, who left us today, the 19th of January, 2026. Though it’s painful, we give thanks to God Almighty for a life well-lived.
We celebrate Baba’s enduring legacy, his leadership that unified the Omowas, and the love he showed to all.”
Residents, royal families, and traditional chiefs have continued to pay tributes, describing Pa Durojaye Ariyo as a calm, principled leader whose life was devoted to unity, peace, and the preservation of Isinkan’s cultural heritage.
Burial arrangements and traditional rites would be announced by the family in due course.
