Standing With a Grieving Land: A Message of Unity From Prince Adetunji Adeleke

In the early hours of July 13th, 2025, when news broke of the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland at the age of 91, a heavy stillness descended upon our land. By dawn, July 14th, the markets of Ijebu-Ode moved more slowly than usual. Voices in homes and on street corners softened into whispers. Even […]

In the early hours of July 13th, 2025, when news broke of the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland at the age of 91, a heavy stillness descended upon our land. By dawn, July 14th, the markets of Ijebu-Ode moved more slowly than usual. Voices in homes and on street corners softened into whispers. Even the air seemed to carry a weight that pressed gently but firmly against every heart.

From the quiet paths of Imupa to the bustling roads of Ijebu-Igbo, and from Lagos to far-flung corners of the world where Ijebu sons and daughters reside, one truth echoed: Ijebuland was grieving.

Reflecting on the moment, Prince Adetunji Abiodun Adeleke described the loss as “a pain that reaches every Ijebu soul, no matter where we stand or how far life has taken us.”

“The Awujale wasn’t just a monarch,” he said softly.
“He was our moral compass… a bridge between the old and the young, a symbol of dignity, and the steady flame of Ijebu pride.”

Prince Adeleke spoke with reverence about the Awujale’s towering legacy; his uncompromising discipline, his unshakeable devotion to truth, and the lifelong courage with which he guarded the honour of Ijebuland. He reminded the people that true leadership does not end with a reign; it continues in the standards it sets for generations.

Calling for unity in these difficult days that followed from July 15th, through the ongoing mourning period, he urged Ijebu sons and daughters everywhere to honour the late monarch by living out the virtues he embodied.

“We may have lost a king,” he said, “but what he left us is a calling, a responsibility to keep Ijebuland strong, united, and forever anchored in the principles he lived and died for.”

His message travelled swiftly through communities, towns, prayer circles, WhatsApp groups, and diaspora gatherings. It became not only a source of comfort, but a light for direction as many struggled to understand how to move forward without the familiar presence of the Awujale.

In these days of collective sorrow, Prince Adeleke’s words have stood firm; steady, reassuring, and grounded in a deep love for his people. Not merely the voice of a prince by birth, but a leader shaped by conviction, loyalty, and unwavering purpose.

As Ijebuland continues to mourn and as the dates pass, each one marking a day farther from his physical presence but closer to the strengthening of his memory, we are reminded:

The legacy of the Awujale lives on in every act of unity, every gesture of discipline, and every expression of love we share in his honour.