Within just six weeks, the family of former Ooni of Ife, the late Sir Adesoji Aderemi, lost three women, all daughters of the revered former traditional ruler, reported to have wielded a lot of power and influence during his reign in the town now located in the State of Osun, western Nigeria.
The three Princesses are Tejumade Alakija, a former Head of Service in the old Western Region, Princess Teniade Areoye Adunni Omoworare and Princess Adeogun Lasekan.
They all died in their old age.
Princess Tejumade Alakija was the first to die on Friday, 23 August at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, after a brief illness. She was 88 years old.
Until her death, Alakija, also a former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Abuja, was the head of the Adesoji Aderemi and the popular Omisore families of Osun State.
Survived by Folake St. Mathew Daniel and Toyin Komolafe, her funeral slated for 8 November and, which sources say would be grand, is to be co-sponsored by the Osun and Oyo State governments in the form of a state burial because of her position and roles in the development of the two states in her life time.
Preparations for her burial are said to be in top gear, with several associations, groups and indigenes of Oyo and Osun states also making her funeral a grand one.
However, while the royal family was still mourning, it lost another prominent matriarch, Princess Teniade Areoye Adunni Omoworare.
The late Princess Teniade and mother of a serving senator, Jide Omoworare, died on Saturday, 12 October, 2013 at the age of 82.
She is also survived by Funke Oyewole, Nike Omoworare, and Segun Omoworare.
Her burial has been tentatively fixed for the last week of November, P.M. NEWS learnt.
Before the death of Princess Teniade, the Aderemi family had lost Princess Adeogun Lasekan, another daughter of the former Ooni.
Her death occurred on 23 September, exactly a month after the death of Princess Alakija.
Princess Lasekan is said to be known and loved for her philanthropic activities and charming smile.
Survived by many children and grandchildren, her funeral ceremony took place last week with a burial service, which took place at the All Saints Anglican Church, Montegomery Road, Yaba while the interment was held at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos. A grand reception was later held in her honour at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.