President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, to pay his last respect to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died earlier this month at the age of 91.
A revered Monarch and custodian of Ijebu tradition, Oba Adetona reigned for over six decades, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Nigeria’s history. His death marks the end of an era for the Ijebu people and the Yoruba nation at large.
President Tinubu, who shared a decade-long friendship with the late monarch, is expected to join other dignitaries, traditional rulers, and citizens in a tribute ceremony celebrating the life and legacy of the respected king.
In a statement released ahead of his visit, the President described the late Awujale as “a towering figure in the annals of Nigerian royalty, a father figure, confidant, and patriot who embodied dignity, wisdom, and unwavering loyalty to his people.”
Oba Sikiru Adetona ascended the throne in 1960 and played an influential role in National affairs, often using his voice to advocate for justice, democracy, and good governance.
The burial rites are expected to draw mourners from across the country and beyond, as the nation bids farewell to a monarch whose reign spanned colonial rule, independence, military regimes, and democratic transitions.
Oba Adetona was born in 1934 and reigned for 65 years before his death in 2025.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
