Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has celebrated the Olu of Iju, Gbalefa, Oba Olufemi Sodeinde, describing the centenarian monarch as a rare example of selfless leadership and unwavering commitment to his people.

The milestone birthday was marked at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, where family members, traditional rulers, political leaders and community figures gathered to honour the royal father from Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In a documentary tribute played at the event, Obasanjo traced his relationship with Oba Sodeinde to 1967, when he served in Ibadan as the Third Area Commander of the Nigerian Army. He recalled how the monarch consistently defended the interests of the Owu people in the Gbalefa community, earning deep respect across divides.

Obasanjo noted that when the time came to install a traditional ruler in Gbalefa, there was “nobody in every sense of the word more qualified” than Sodeinde. He recounted how some had expressed concern about installing a monarch already in his nineties, but he insisted that merit and service should prevail over age.

“It is better late than never,” Obasanjo said, adding that attaining 100 years was “no joke” and a testimony to divine grace. He prayed that God would continue to uphold the monarch and grant him strength in his advanced years.

Obasanjo’s wife, Bola, also paid tribute, portraying the royal father as a unifier who welcomes all, regardless of background. She recalled periods when Oba Sodeinde stayed with their family, noting his deep appreciation for even the smallest acts of kindness and his constant desire to uplift others.

The monarch’s first child, Mojisola Sodeinde, offered a more intimate portrait, describing her father as disciplined yet compassionate. She said his philosophy of leadership is anchored in humility, service and the deliberate pursuit of unity, peace and harmony, values he instilled in his children and community.

Other dignitaries, including former Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun, represented by his wife Olufunso, Egba High Chief Doja Adewolu and former Ogun State lawmaker Johnson Fatoki, joined in eulogising the monarch, portraying his 100th birthday as both a personal milestone and a celebration of enduring, people-centred leadership.