The kingdom of Ijebu has lost its patriarch. His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the cherished Awujale of Ijebuland, peacefully joined his ancestors on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after an extraordinary 65-year reign that touched countless lives and transformed a local festival into a global celebration.
For more than six decades—from that momentous day of April 2, 1960, when he was crowned at just 26 years old—Oba Adetona embodied the very essence of what it means to be a traditional ruler in modern Nigeria. Born on May 10, 1934, this remarkable son of the Royal House of Anikinaiya didn’t just inherit a throne; he breathed new life into ancient traditions while building bridges to the contemporary world.
The news of his passing sent waves of grief across Nigeria and beyond. Prince Adedoyin Alatishe, speaking from the heart of the Ijebu community, captured the collective mourning in his poignant tribute: “Baami Ogbagba agbatewole. Erin wo. Omo anikilaya saagbu.” These words, heavy with emotion, reflected what millions felt—the passing of not just a king, but a father figure to an entire people.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, visibly moved by the loss, described it as a wound to both the state and the nation. “With deep sorrow, we announce the transition of His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, who joined his ancestors today, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91,” he wrote, his words carrying the weight of a people’s grief.
The Making of a King
Every great story has humble beginnings, and Oba Adetona’s began in his father’s house in Imupa, Ijebu Ode, on that May day in 1934. His bloodline read like a who’s who of Ijebu royalty—his father, Prince Rufai Adetona Adeleke, was the son of Oba Adeleke, Ogbagba Agbotewole I, who ruled from 1895 to 1906. His mother, Ajibabi Onasile, brought the warmth of Ijebu Igbo into the royal lineage.
The young prince’s roots ran deep into the soil of Ijebu history. His great-grandfather, Oba Anikilaya, Figbajoye Agboogunsa I, had ruled from 1821 to 1854, and through him, the family traced their lineage back to the legendary Olu-Iwa, the first Awujale, and Obanta, another founding father of the Ijebu kingdom.
Education shaped the future king’s worldview. From the Baptist Schools of Ereko and Ogbere United Primary School between 1943 and 1950, to the prestigious Olu-Iwa College (now Adeola Odutola College) from 1951 to 1956, young Adetona showed the intellectual curiosity that would later define his reign. His brief stint with the Audit Department of the Western Region in Ibadan from 1957 to 1958 gave him a taste of public service, but destiny had bigger plans.
In 1958, he made a bold decision that would prove crucial to his future leadership—he resigned his comfortable government position to pursue accountancy studies in the United Kingdom. This move demonstrated the forward-thinking mindset that would later revolutionize traditional monarchy in Nigeria.
A Crown Earned, Not Just Inherited
The path to the throne unfolded like a carefully orchestrated symphony. On January 4, 1960, a letter from the Permanent Secretary in the Western Region Ministry of Local Government brought life-changing news—Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona had been appointed as the new Awujale of Ijebuland. But this wasn’t just bureaucratic procedure; it was the culmination of a rigorous selection process where he was chosen unanimously by the kingmakers from among six candidates.
The homecoming was a spectacle that Ijebu Ode had never witnessed before. Distinguished chiefs like the late Ogbeni-Oja, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, Bobasuwa I, Chief Emmanuel Okusanya Okunowo, and Asiwaju, Chief Samuel Olatubosun Shonibare, orchestrated a royal welcome that would be remembered for generations.
January 18, 1960, marked a historic moment when Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola formally presented the king-elect to the world—a presentation so innovative it became a template for future coronations. After three months of traditional seclusion at the Odo, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
April 2, 1960—a date forever etched in Ijebu history. The formal coronation of Oba Adetona wasn’t just a ceremony; it was the dawn of a new era. At 26, he was young, charismatic, and ready to lead his people into the modern world while honoring their ancient traditions.
Three days later, on April 5, 1960, the newly crowned Oba took his seat in the Western Region House of Chiefs. Such was his immediate impact that some Obas and Chiefs nominated him for the presidency of the House of Chiefs—an extraordinary honor for someone so young in his reign, though the position ultimately went to the more senior Sir Adesoji Aderemi, Ooni of Ife.
The Festival That Conquered Hearts
Perhaps no single achievement captures Oba Adetona’s genius more than his transformation of the Ojude Oba festival. What began as a local celebration became a global phenomenon that put Ijebu culture on the world map. Every year, on the third day of Eid-el-Kabir, something magical happened in Ijebu Ode—people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious beliefs, would converge to pay homage to their beloved Awujale.
The festival became a living, breathing expression of unity in diversity. Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers would come together in a spectacular display of colorful parades, magnificent traditional attire, and unbridled cultural pride. Under Oba Adetona’s visionary leadership, Ojude Oba evolved from a simple homage ceremony into a tourism magnet that attracted visitors from around the world.
The images of elegantly dressed Ijebu people, their vibrant agbada flowing in the wind, their horses prancing with pride, and their faces beaming with joy, became synonymous with the beauty of African culture. The festival didn’t just celebrate the Awujale; it celebrated the resilience, unity, and rich heritage of the Ijebu people.
Sadly, age and frailty kept the beloved monarch away from the last edition of the festival. His absence was deeply felt by all who had grown accustomed to his dignified presence and warm smile as he received the adoration of his people.
A Legacy That Lives On
As the sun set on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Nigeria didn’t just lose a traditional ruler—it lost a bridge between the old and the new, a unifier of people, and a visionary who proved that tradition and modernity could dance together beautifully. His passing came on the same day as that of his longtime friend, former President Muhammadu Buhari, marking the end of an era for Nigeria.
Oba Sikiru Adetona’s 65-year reign stands as a testament to what leadership can achieve when it’s grounded in love for one’s people, respect for tradition, and openness to change. He didn’t just rule the Ijebu Kingdom; he nurtured it, celebrated it, and shared its beauty with the world.
The Ojude Oba festival will continue, the traditions will endure, and the kingdom will find its way forward, but the warmth of his presence, the wisdom of his leadership, and the joy he brought to his people will be treasured forever in the hearts of all who knew him.
Ogbagba Agbotewole II, you have fought a good fight. Rest in the bosom of your ancestors.
