By Marvellous Nyang
July 14, 2025
The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, was on Monday buried at his Ogbagba Court residence in Igbeba, Ijebu-Ode, following Islamic rites, bringing an end to an era of over six decades of his revered reign.
The late monarch, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 91, was laid to rest in the mausoleum within his residence shortly after a solemn Janazah (Islamic funeral) prayer led by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Miftaudeen Gbadegesin Ayanbadejo.
The interment, held around 6:00 p.m., was witnessed by hundreds of dignitaries, traditional chiefs, family members and residents who gathered to pay their last respects to the monarch renowned for his integrity, cultural leadership and developmental strides.
Markets and shops in Ijebu-Ode were shut on Monday as a mark of respect, and the palace was placed under tight security with personnel from the Nigerian Army, police and other agencies ensuring orderliness throughout the ceremony.
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Prominent figures present included Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel; business magnate, Aliko Dangote; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, among others.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Abiodun described the late monarch as “a beacon of cultural pride, wisdom, and progressive leadership,” while also noting his pivotal role in securing legal reforms that allowed traditional rulers in Ogun State to be buried in line with their religious beliefs.
Oba Adetona, who ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, ruled for over 65 years, making him one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning monarchs.
He is widely celebrated for transforming the Ojude Oba festival into an international cultural showcase, reviving age-grade systems and championing community development in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
His final wish, expressed publicly during the 2019 Ojude Oba festival, was for his successor to be chosen without political interference, stressing merit and integrity over wealth or influence.
As succession deliberations are expected to commence shortly under the guidance of Ogun State’s chieftaincy laws and the rotational system among the four ruling houses, the Ijebu people continue to mourn a leader they regard as a father figure and custodian of their heritage.
The burial ceremony marked not only the end of an illustrious reign but also the beginning of a new chapter for Ijebuland, now tasked with upholding the late monarch’s vision of unity, progress and respect for tradition.
