Nigeria has been plunged into further mourning following the death of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away on Sunday, 13th July 2025, at the age of 91.
Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, officially announced the monarch’s death on Sunday night, describing it as a “double sadness,” coinciding with the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Oba Adetona, who ascended the throne in 1960 at the age of 26, reigned for more than 65 years, making him one of Nigeria’s longest-serving and most respected traditional rulers.
In a statement personally signed by Governor Abiodun and released through his Chief Press Secretary, the governor praised the Awujale’s remarkable contributions to Ijebuland, Ogun State, and Nigeria as a whole.
“Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona was a remarkable royal father… a beacon of unity, cultural preservation, and progressive development,” Abiodun noted.
“Under his leadership, Ijebuland witnessed remarkable strides in infrastructure and community development, and the Ojude Oba festival reached international recognition.”
President Bola Tinubu also paid tribute to the late monarch, describing his death as leaving “an enormous void within the traditional institutions in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general.”
“He served his people with dignity, panache, class, and an unmistakable sense of duty,” President Tinubu said in a statement on Sunday.
“I enjoyed an excellent personal relationship with Kabiyesi. I will forever cherish our time together.”
Tinubu highlighted the Awujale’s enduring legacy, including his endowment of the School of Postgraduate and Research Studies in Governance at Olabisi Onabanjo University, and described him as “an honest arbiter, confidante, and reliable leader without any guile.”
The President extended condolences to the royal family, the people of Ijebuland, and Governor Abiodun, praying that Oba Adetona “find eternal rest” and that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
