TINUBU PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND, OBA ADETONA
…Extols His Integrity, Legacy, and Service
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing him as a symbol of integrity, cultural pride, and service to humanity.
Speaking at the eighth-day prayer held on Sunday at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, President Tinubu said the revered monarch represented the finest values of the Yoruba heritage.
“Today marks a significant moment in our nation’s history, especially for the Yoruba people. Nowhere will you find a better definition of our culture than in the life of the late Awujale,” the President said in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu recalled the crucial support and blessings he received from the late monarch during his political journey, particularly before the 2023 general elections. “I came to him; he blessed me and said, ‘You will win that election.’ Today, he is no more, but God has blessed us, especially if we heed the richness of his wisdom.”
Describing Oba Adetona as courageous and truthful, Tinubu urged Nigerians to uphold the values the monarch embodied. “To honour this great man, we must be more united and live in the spirit of his legacy,” he added.
The President commended Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for his dedication to the late monarch, noting that “he cared for our father both in life and death.”
President Tinubu also paid homage at the monarch’s tomb at the Igbeba Palace, accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, before holding a private meeting with the family.
Governor Abiodun expressed gratitude to the President for his presence and praised the monarch’s impactful reign. “Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona was more than a monarch. He lived a remarkable life of 91 years, with 65 years on the throne. His reign brought development across Ijebuland, Ogun State, and Nigeria at large.”
Islamic prayers were offered by scholars led by the Grand Mufti of Egbaland, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, who reminded the audience of the inevitability of death and the lasting value of good deeds.
Among dignitaries who joined the President were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Deputy Governor of Lagos Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and several ministers and lawmakers.
Also in attendance were former governors of Ogun State, including Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, along with other political and religious leaders.
Senator Gbenga Daniel described President Tinubu’s presence as a powerful gesture of respect, while the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh Abdulrazaq Abdul-Azeez Ishola, noted that the late monarch had been a staunch supporter of Tinubu and his administration.
The late Oba Adetona was laid to rest on July 14. He ascended the throne in 1960 and was Nigeria’s longest-reigning monarch before his passing at age 91.
