End Of An Era – HRM Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, The Awujale Of Ijebu Land

When the news filtered in that His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Olukayode Adetona (1934 – 2025), Ọgbagba Agbotewole II, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land, had joined his ancestors, a profound silence swept across Ijebuland, Ogun State, and indeed Nigeria. An era had ended. A royal voice, revered for its clarity, courage, and candour, was finally stilled after more than six decades on the throne. At 91 years old, with over 64 years as king, Oba Adetona was the longest-reigning monarch in Nigeria until his passing—a living institution whose legacy defied the passage of time and transcended generations.

To speak of Oba Adetona is to speak of royalty redefined. Born on May 10, 1934, into the Anikilaya Royal House of Ijebu Ode, his path to the throne was neither accidental nor merely symbolic. Crowned Awujale in April 1960, just months before Nigeria attained independence, the young monarch ascended the throne at a time when the country was still in flux, emerging from colonial rule and searching for its post-colonial identity. At just 26 years old, Oba Adetona was thrust into national relevance and regional prominence. He met the moment with intellect, vision, and a spine of steel.

A Monarch with a Modern Spirit

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Oba Adetona brought a rare blend of tradition and modernity to kingship. He was Western-educated, confident, and progressive, yet deeply grounded in Yoruba cultural values. Trained as an Accountant in the United Kingdom before his enthronement, he applied his sharp intellect not just to palace administration but also to the development of Ijebuland and the modernization of traditional institutions.

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Under his stewardship, Ijebuland transformed economically and infrastructurally. His visionary leadership was instrumental in attracting investment, encouraging education, and galvanizing social development. From the famed Ojude Oba Festival, which he helped elevate into an internationally recognized cultural celebration, to championing industrial and infrastructural growth in the region, Oba Adetona’s reign was marked by dynamic innovation rooted in cultural pride.

He was not content to sit as a ceremonial monarch. Oba Adetona redefined traditional rulership by actively engaging with political actors, civil society, and the media. His ability to maintain relevance across political eras—from the First Republic through military regimes to the Fourth Republic—speaks to a monarch who understood the pulse of the nation and the responsibility of moral authority.

What truly set the Awujale apart was his fearlessness. In an environment where traditional rulers were often expected to be silent or pliant in the face of political power, Oba Adetona remained refreshingly vocal, fiercely independent, and unbending in his principles. He was the outspoken when justice was threatened, stood firm in the face of tyranny, and who saw silence as complicity.

During the military era, Oba Adetona was one of the few monarchs who dared to speak truth to power. His criticism of military excesses was well-documented, and he was never afraid to call out leaders—civilian or military—who failed the people. His memoir, Awujale: The Autobiography of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, is as much a personal reflection as it is a political treatise on governance, power, and integrity in Nigeria.

Even within the often-divided Yoruba traditional system, Oba Adetona was a unifying yet assertive force. He had an unshakeable sense of dignity and never shied away from defending the autonomy and importance of traditional institutions. His bold statements on national issues—whether on elections, corruption, or leadership resonated far beyond the palace walls of Ijebu Ode.

A Patron of Education, Philanthropy and A Legacy of Integrity

Oba Adetona’s deep commitment to education will remain one of his most enduring legacies. With a degree in Accountancy from the United Kingdom, he understood early on that the future of any society rests on the shoulders of educated minds. This passion led to the establishment of the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. He also endowed the School of Governance Studies, an unprecedented gesture by a traditional ruler, showing that monarchy could indeed contribute meaningfully to intellectual leadership and national discourse.

His philanthropy was quiet but impactful. Numerous students, entrepreneurs, and families benefited from his personal resources and extensive networks. He was a bridge-builder—between the old and the young, the elite and the grassroots, tradition and modernity. Despite his status, he was accessible to his people and deeply respected by fellow monarchs, governors, ministers, and presidents.

In a country plagued by compromise, Oba Adetona was incorruptible. His personal discipline, frugality, and ethical consistency earned him the trust of his people and the admiration of the wider Nigerian society. He never sought undue material accumulation or political favour. His palace was always dignified, never gaudy. His interventions in public affairs were always principled, never opportunistic. He was a monarch who saw his title not as an entitlement, but as a duty.

For many, Oba Adetona was the conscience of the Yoruba nation. His counsel was sought by governors, presidents, and elder statesmen. And yet, he remained remarkably humble. He understood the transient nature of power and privilege and always placed the collective interest above personal gain.

Even in his later years, when age slowed his gait but not his intellect, he remained razor-sharp in thought and deeply invested in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. He continued to mentor younger traditional rulers and often used his platform to challenge them to uphold the highest standards of ethical leadership.

Mourning a Titan, Honouring an Era

The death of Oba Adetona is not merely the passing of a man; it is the curtain call on a rare epoch in Nigerian traditional leadership. He was a living archive of Yoruba history, a custodian of values, and a builder of legacy. His death leaves an irreplaceable void, not just in Ijebuland but across Nigeria’s moral and traditional landscape.

As Ijebuland begins the rites of passage for its illustrious monarch, and as dignitaries across Nigeria prepare to pay their final respects, the tributes are pouring in as they rightly should. But more than tributes, Nigeria must pause to reflect: what do we do with the legacy of leaders like Oba Adetona? How do we preserve their wisdom, institutionalise their values, and inspire a new generation to emulate their courage?

Let us not merely mourn. Let us honour him by upholding what he stood for—truth, justice, accountability, cultural dignity, and fearless service. Let Ijebu Land continue to build on the solid foundation he laid and name programmes after him as a public reminder of the standard he set. Let his model of monarchy, one that is morally engaged, intellectually curious, and socially responsible be taught in schools of governance and leadership.

In the end, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona leaves behind a proud and grateful people, stories of courage whispered from one generation to the next and a throne that will be hard to fill, not because of its grandeur, but because of the greatness of the man who once sat upon it.

May the soil of Ijebuland rest lightly on this royal icon. And may his spirit find eternal peace among the ancestors. Nigeria has lost a monarch, but history has gained a legend.

Sun re o, Awujale. The lion has returned home. The crown rests. The legacy lives on.