PICTORIAL: Osinbajo, Dangote, Others Bid Awujale Farewell

The remains of the late Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona was on Monday laid to rest in Ijebu Ode in accordance with the Islamic rites.

The event was presided over by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo.

Oba Adetona, who joined his ancestors on Sunday, July 13, 2025, was interred at an already prepared tomb beside his parents at the mausoleum located within his Ogbagba Court in Igbeba, Ijebu Ode around 6pm.

Among eminent personalities who thronged Ijebu Ode to pay their last respect to the late monarch include former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who joined his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the funeral rites.

Also in attendance was the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who led a federal government delegation that included the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alh Gboyega Oyetola.

Others included former governors of Ogun State – Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Ishola; former Deputy Governor, Senator Gbenga Kaka, as well as the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriations, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, among others.

Meanwhile, traditionalists, who also thronged the venue of the funeral rites were prevented from conducting the customary burial rituals at the event which held amidst heavy security build-up already put in place by the state government.

The traditionalists, who arrived in large numbers in anticipation of performing the age-long traditional rites, were later escorted out of the venue by security operatives that included personnel of the Nigerian Army.

The incident may not be unconnected with the enforcement of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021 as amended, which empowers traditional rulers to be buried according to their personal religious convictions rather than the native rites.

Earlier in an interview, Senator Daniel said the Ijebu people would forever miss the paternal support of Oba Adetona whom they all regarded as the great grand father.

“Without any doubt, the situation in Ijebuland cannot be the same again because the people had been used to paternal support of the great grand father who had navigated the land successfully and the people of this community have no choice than to come together to continue from where Kabiyesi has left off,” the former governor said.

He added, “It is common knowledge that in Kabiyesi Awujale, you have a forthright personality, who can speak truth to all at a time, who can be described as fearless, who abhors people telling lies and who is very straight forward to a fault.

“Kabiyesi is not used to anybody who is diplomatic. He says it as it is. At the end of the day, in the course of that, he garnered his own detractors. People have said that he successfully won all the battles. He was strong from the beginning to the end, I guess that the testimony as to the kind of life he lived was that he was indeed a forthright personality”.