Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona 1933- 2025

Nigeria lost one of its famous traditional rulers with the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland on July 13, 2025. It was indeed the end for an era as the late Oba had spent 65 years overseeing one of the revered kingdoms in Yorubaland, making him the longest reigning monarch in […]

Nigeria lost one of its famous traditional rulers with the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland on July 13, 2025.

It was indeed the end for an era as the late Oba had spent 65 years overseeing one of the revered kingdoms in Yorubaland, making him the longest reigning monarch in recent history. 

He was a remarkable king who led with empathy, courage and compassion, not just to his immediate constituency but to the nation at large.

Oba Sikiru Adetona was born into the family of Prince Rufai Adeleke of the Anikinaiya royal House on the 10th of May, 1934, in Imupa, Ijebu Ode. He had his education in Baptist and Ansar-Udeen schools in his beloved Ijebu Ode. He proceeded to Olu-Iwa College and went on to study Accountancy in the United Kingdom. In order to pave the way for him to become the Awujale, his father, Prince Rufai Adeleke sacrificed his own ambition of becoming the Oba to boost the chance for his son to get the throne, a decision which was well cherished by the kingdom and beyond. 

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He was installed and presented with the staff of office by the then Premier of the Western Region, the late Chief Ladoke Akintola at age 26 to succeed Oba Adesanya Gbelegbuwa II. He automatically joined elite leagues of prominent Yoruba Obas and became a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs. His era can be described as the Ijebu Golden era, which brought unity, prosperity and peace to the kingdom. He also showcased the Ijebu heritage and attracted tourist from around the world by growing the annual Ojude-Oba festival and revitalised the age-grade system known as Regbe-Regbe. This made him the get title of Cultural Icon while some referred to him as the ORISA IJEBU (Ijebu Deity).

As a king, he was fearless and talked true to the power which once led to a misunderstanding with the then Governor of the state, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, resulting to the governor announcing his disposition but was saved  by the 1983 military coup which the then military authorities reversed the decision.

He always saw himself as the leader of his people whose major duty was to see to their wellbeing. In an interview with The Nation newspaper in 2020, he was quoted as saying: “My duty is the welfare of my people; and in doing that there will be risks and I have to face it, the risks on behalf of my people. That is why I am on the throne. If I can’t do that, then I should quit. I saw the need to defend my people and I did just that.”

The late Monarch also contributed to the development of scholarship by the establishment of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance at Olabisi Onabanjo University, leading to the creation of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Institute for Governance Studies — a major contribution to academia and public policy which President Bola AhmedTinubu directed the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos to take over its management.

An outstanding leader, and the voice for the voiceless, a dogged fighter, President Tinubu conferred on him the second highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 2024 during his 90th birthday ceremony, the only traditional ruler to be so honoured in the country for his immeasurable and invaluable contributions to national development.

His demise which coincidentally happened hours apart with that of the former President Muhammadu Buhari died sent shock waves throughout the country. 

In a condolence message, President Tinubu described him as “a towering natural ruler who served his people with dignity, panache, class, and an unmistakable sense of duty. During his remarkable reign that witnessed tremendous progress and development in Ijebu-Ode and the entire Ijebuland, Oba Adetona provided uncompromising leadership to his people.”

Governor Dapo Abiodun said that Adetona left behind a remarkable legacy that has significantly shaped Ijebuland, Ogun State and Nigeria in general. Throughout his reign, Abiodun stated that Adetona was a beacon of unity, cultural preservation, and progressive development, noting that 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 Nigeria.

Oba Adetona was buried on Monday, July 14 according to Islamic rites in a solemn ceremony attended by dignitaries, royal family members, and high chiefs of the Ijebu Traditional Council at his private residence in Ijebu Ode.

We at Daily Trust join millions of sons and daughters of Ijebuland, and the entire country in mourning the departure of Oba Sikiru Adetona. We pray to God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest and reward him with Aljannah Firdaus.