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The passage of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, on July 13, has marked the end of his 65 years on the throne. With his death at 91, Nigeria has lost one of its greatest and longest reigning monarchs. No doubt, he brought honour and prestige to the throne. He was highly respected by notable Nigerian leaders. Born on May 10, 1934, he became the Awujale of Ijebuland in 1960 and reigned for 65 years. His father, Rufai Adetona, an aspirant to the stool, gave the right to his son, Sikiru Adetona. Thus the deceased became the Awujale at the age of 26. He was probably one of the youngest monarchs in Nigerian history
He attended Ogbere United Primary School in Ijebu Igbo and Ansar-Ud-Deen School in Ijebu Ode from 1943 to 1950. He later attended Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College in Ijebu Ode from 1951 to 1956. After his secondary education, he worked at the Western Regional Civil Service in the Accounts Department. He distinguished himself as a dedicated, honest and selfless staff member.
After a brief stint at the civil service, he later studied Accountancy in the United Kingdom (UK). Two years into his academic pursuit in the UK, he was recalled to assume the throne following the death of Oba Adesanya Gbelegbuwa ll in January 1959. He was formally inaugurated as the Awujale of Ijebuland on April 2, 1960.
His ascension to the throne was significant because it marked the first time that a member of the Anikinlaiya ruling house became the Awujale. For 65 years, he presided over Ijebuland, bringing with him an uncommon charisma and candour to the throne.
He was bold and decisive in his approach to national issues. He was democratic in orientation, egalitarian by inclination, and genuinely committed to the uplift of humanity. From cultural renaissance to political courage, he led from the front and was never afraid to ruffle feathers in the corridors of power when the truth needed to be told. He identified with the common people and the downtrodden, challenging the hegemony of the status quo to the admiration of his people.
All through the period of his distinguished reign in Ijebuland, he was a beacon of unity, cultural preservation, and progressive development. His dedication to the welfare of his people was evident in his efforts to foster educational advancements, healthcare improvements, and economic growth within the state and the country. Under his able leadership, Ijebuland witnessed remarkable strides in infrastructure and community development, establishing itself as a model of progress in Ogun State.
As a cultural enthusiast, his leadership enhanced the cultural heritage of Yoruba and Ijebuland, with the Ojude Oba festival. Under his leadership, the festival attained international standards, which affirmed the reputation of the entire Southwest of Nigeria, as a thriving hub of commerce and tourism through culture and tradition. The annual Ojude Oba Festival, which now attracts thousands of tourists to Ijebuland, gained global ascendancy during his glorious reign.
As a promoter of culture, he modernized the Ojude Oba Festival and made it an annual tourist and global event. He gave the Ojude Oba Festival a new, fascinating identity, which attracted global recognition. He was said to have encouraged some prominent Ijebu indigenes to think home and invest in Ijebuland.
The life of Oba Adetona was marked by courage, commitment to democratic ideals, as well as the pursuit of greater development of Ijebu and Nigeria as a whole. Although he did not contest any political position, he carved a niche for himself in politics by fighting for the rights of the oppressed and the masses. He decried military dictatorship and defended his people against authoritarian regimes.
As a lover of education, Oba Adetona endowed a professorial chair in good governance at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. Last year when he was marking his 90th birthday, he donated a sprawling edifice called Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance to the institution’s Department of Political Science. He was honoured with the Grand Commander Order of Niger (GCON) by President Bola Tinubu. Undoubtedly, his glorious reign was marked by dedicated service to his people and the preservation of Ijebu heritage. He was, until his death, the leading light for the creation of Ijebu State.
