…Describes Oba Sikiru Adetona as a king among kings, fearless patriarch of modern Yoruba identity
The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has expressed deep condolences on the transition of His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, who passed on at the age of 91 after an exceptional 64-year reign.
In a statement issued from the Ile-Oodua Palace of Ife on Sunday, and signed by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media & Public Affairs, the Ooni of Ife paid glowing tributes to the late monarch, celebrating him as an eternal symbol of royal courage, wisdom, and cultural pride.
In his capacity as Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), the Ooni described the late monarch's glorious journey as a testament to divine favour and a legacy that shall endure through generations.
Ooni Ogunwusi commiserated with the late Awujale's royal family, the people of Ijebuland both at home and abroad, the Ogun State Council of Obas, traditional rulers across Yorubaland, and the Nigerian nation at large.
Reflecting on the late monarch’s life, the Ooni stated: “The late Awujale was a recipient of God’s uncommon grace—grace we all pray for as traditional rulers. At a young age, he desired the throne; God granted him that.
"He wished to live long; God granted him 91 remarkable years. He longed for a fulfilled reign; God granted him 64 years on the throne, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Nigerian history.”
Ooni Ogunwusi emphasized that, in Yoruba tradition, kings are not mourned but celebrated, as their transition is considered a divine return to the realm of the ancestors.
“The departure of a revered monarch like Oba Sikiru Adetona is not a loss, but the glorious return of an elephant to the ancestral plains, a homecoming to the sacred gathering of eternal kings.
"He was a titan in the palace, a lion in the pursuit of justice, and a towering figure in the preservation of Yoruba values. His voice echoed beyond Ijebuland, shaping national discourse and defending the integrity of our culture with fearless clarity.”
Describing Oba Adetona as a “living oracle of royal distinction,” the Ooni remarked: “He wore the crown not merely as a symbol of royalty, but as a badge of unwavering responsibility. His blunt truthfulness, unmatched wisdom, and towering presence made him a king among kings, unshaken in principle and unforgettable in legacy.”
On behalf of the House of Oduduwa and the Yoruba traditional institution, the Ooni offered heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of Oba Adetona’s spirit in the eternal abode of noble ancestors.
“May Kabiyesi be received with thunderous royal chants in the ancestral court, where only kings of divine ordination dwell. Indeed, Ajanaku sun bi oke—the elephant has gone to rest like a mountain, but his footprints remain indelible on the sands of time.”