The remains of the late Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona were on Monday laid to rest in Ijebu Ode in accordance with the Islamic rites at the event presided over by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo.
The Ijebu monarch, who joined his ancestors on Sunday afternoon was interred into an already prepared tomb constructed by the late Awujale himself besides his parents at the Mausoleum located within the precinct of his Ogbagba Court in Igbeba, Ijebu Ode around 6p.m. after an unexplained initial delay.
Eminent personalities, who thronged the Ijebu Ode to pay their last respect to Awujale included the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as well as the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who joined the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the funeral rites.
Also in attendance was the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who led a federal government delegation that included the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to Ijebu Ode for the funeral rites of the Ijebu monarch, who transited at the age of 91.
Others included the former governors of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Ishola; former Deputy Governor, Senator Gbenga Kaka, as well as the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriations, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola among others.
Meanwhile, traditionalists, who also thronged the venue of the funeral rites were prevented from conducting the customary burial rituals at the event which was held amidst heavy security build-up already put in place by the state government.
The traditionalists, who arrived in large numbers in anticipation of performing the age-long traditional rites, were later escorted out of the venue by security operatives that included personnel of the Nigerian Army.
The incident may not be unconnected with the enforcement of the controversial Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empowers traditional rulers to be buried according to their personal religious convictions rather than the native rites.
Earlier in an interview, former governor of the state, Senator Gbenga Daniel said the Ijebu people would forever miss the paternal support of Oba Adetona whom they all regarded as the great grandfather.
“Without any doubt. The situation in Ijebuland cannot be the same again because the people had been used to paternal support of the great grandfather, who had navigated the land successfully and the people of this community had no choice than to come together to continue from where Kabiyesi had left off”.
“It is common knowledge that in Kabiyesi Awujale, you have a forthright personality, who can speak truth to all at a time, who can be described as fearless who abhors people telling lies and who is very straight forward to a fault”.
“Kabiyesi is not used to anybody who is diplomatic. He says it as it is. At the end of the day, in the course of that , he garnered his own detractors . People have said that he successfully won all the battles. He was strong from the beginning to the end. I guess that the testimony as to the kind of life he lived was that he was indeed a forthright personality”.
The demise of the monarch had paralyzed commercial activities in Ijebu Ode, as well as the adjourning towns on Monday, as a mark of honour for the revered traditional ruler of the town, Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
A statement issued on Monday by the Executive Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu said the closure was in line with the cultural traditions of the town, which aimed at allowing all sons and daughters of Ijebuland the space, “to mourn this monumental loss” of the monarch, who is regarded as the deity of their land.
