The Ijebu Kingdom is in mourning following the passing of its paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died at the age of 91 mere hours after the death of his close ally and former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Oba Adetona, who ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, ruled for over 64 remarkable years, earning his place in history as one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning traditional rulers. His leadership, wisdom, and grace earned him immense respect across generations.
But the monarch’s story was nearly cut short in the early 1980s. In 1983, Ogun State’s then-Governor, Olabisi Onabanjo, had signed an official order removing him from the throne, set to take effect on January 2, 1984. However, the tides of history shifted dramatically when Buhari’s military coup on December 31, 1983, halted the governor’s plan.
That moment not only saved Adetona’s reign but forged an unbreakable bond between him and Buhari — one sealed by fate and circumstance.
As the nation reels from the double blow, the legacy of the Awujale remains firmly etched in the hearts of his people — a symbol of strength, survival, and a monarchy protected by destiny.
