The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, has passed away at the age of 91, drawing the curtain on a remarkable 64-year reign that began shortly before Nigeria’s independence.
The revered monarch died on Sunday, just hours after news broke of the death of his close friend and Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari. Their friendship, which spanned decades, was rooted in both personal admiration and the extraordinary political events that shaped Nigeria in the early 1980s.
Oba Adetona ascended the throne of his forefathers on April 2, 1960, and ruled with distinction for over six decades, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in the country’s history. His reign was marked by a deep commitment to the development of Ijebuland and the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage.
His bond with Buhari became publicly significant during a turbulent chapter in Nigeria’s political history. In 1983, then-Ogun State Governor Olabisi Onabanjo had signed a formal order to depose Oba Adetona, with the decision set to take effect on January 2, 1984.
But fate intervened.
On December 31, 1983, a military coup led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the civilian government, effectively nullifying the removal order. The coup preserved Adetona’s place on the throne — a twist of history that many believe further deepened the relationship between the two men.