…describes Oba Adetona as confidante, courageous leader
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday joined other dignitaries in Ijebu-Ode to pay his respects at the eighth-day Fidau prayers held in honour of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away recently after an extraordinary 65-year reign on the throne.
In a message posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, the President described the late monarch as more than a traditional ruler, calling him “a confidante, a guide, and a man of truth” whose counsel shaped decisions and provided clarity in moments of uncertainty.
“Last Sunday, within hours, I lost two men I held in the highest esteem: my dear predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Kabiyesi, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who joined his ancestors after over 65 remarkable years on the throne,” Tinubu wrote.
Reflecting on Oba Adetona’s legacy, President Tinubu hailed his reign as one of “rare dignity, candour, and courage,” noting that the monarch consistently placed the interests of his people above all else.
He praised the Awujale’s deep sense of duty and described his voice as one that carried weight across Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
“Kabiyesi was more than a royal father to me. He was a confidante, a guide, and a man of truth whose wisdom never failed to steady those who sought it. His voice, leadership, and generosity will echo far beyond Ijebuland”, the President stated.
President Tinubu, who made the journey to Ijebu-Ode specifically for the prayer session, said he came to honour the Awujale’s enduring legacy and to stand with the people of Ijebuland in mourning a monumental figure.
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“Oba Adetona’s demise has left an enormous void within the traditional institutions in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general,” he noted.
He concluded the message with a prayer: “May Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort all who mourn him.”
The Fidau prayers drew notable figures from across the country, underscoring the national reverence accorded to the late monarch, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional rulers.
Oba Sikiru Adetona was crowned Awujale in 1960 and until his death was one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning monarchs.
