•What Chief FASSY YUSUF Revealed About Him
Have you noticed that the Ijebu people respect and rever the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona? Have you also realised that they hold him in high esteem? If you don’t know, let’s quickly tell you that they do. The Awujale is one Oba they don’t joke with. That is why they have coined for him, several names they call him, like Orisha Ijebu.
The reason for this is quite understandable. He is unarguably one of Nigeria’s greatest living monarchs, a patriot and nationalist of the highest order, revealed Chief Fassy Yusuf a prominent Ijebu Chief in his most definitive write-up on Kabiyeesi.
According to him, “the Awujale has been on the throne for about 62 years having been officially recognized by the then Western Region Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on January 4, 1960, and crowned on April 2, 1960, six months before the country attained independence.”
“Now, a word on the journey of this quintessential monarch to this age where he is now an encyclopedia on the chequered history of Nigeria, and the greatest custodian of Ijebu culture, tradition and history. A cerebral mind, a wordsmith, an institution, a royalty of the highest nobility, a sagacious personality and the collective pride of the Ijebu nation, he is unarguably the architect of the modern Ijebu nation.
Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona’s letter of appointment was released on January 4, 1960. He was born on May 10, 1934. He is thus 88 years old and 62 years on the unique and ancient throne of his ancestors, as the 58th Awujale.
Being a first-class monarch and the longest reigning Awujale in recorded history, Oba Adetona has every reason to give thanks to the Almighty God. His reign has been a monumental success and a pride to the Ijebu of South-West Nigeria, the several tribulations he faced up to 1984 notwithstanding. He personifies the attributes of Ijebu that include fierce and sturdy independence, candour, objectivity, sagacity, sincerity, entrepreneurial spirit, reliability and resoluteness.
Born as Prince Sikiru Olukayode Adetona to the Anikilaya Ogbagba Royal family of Ijebu-Ode, his father was Prince Rufai Adetona, whilst his mother, Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (nee Onashile), who hailed from ljebu-Igbo was the aunt of Otunba (Dr.) Mike Adenuga (Jnr.) of Globacom fame.
Young Prince Adetona, variously attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu-Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, ljebu-Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he was at Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu-Ode from 1951 to 1956.
Between 1957 and 1958, he took up an appointment with the then Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan.
The charming prince resigned from his appointment in 1958, to pursue further studies in accountancy in the United Kingdom (UK).
By a letter dated January 4, 1960 reference CB.41/333, the Permanent Secretary in the
Western Region’s Ministry of Local Government conveyed to the Local Government Adviser in Ijebu-Ode, the approval of the Western Region Governor-in-Council for the appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as the Awujale ofIjebuland with effect from that date (January 4 1960). It became the lot of Ijebu notables like the late Ogbeni-Oja, Chief (Dr.) Timothy Adeola Odutola; Bobasuwa, Chief E. O. Okunowo and Asiwaju, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare to arrange for the homecoming of the King-elect.
On January 18, 1960, the head of the Ijebu-Ode Regency Council, the late Ogbeni-Oja, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola formally presented the new traditional ruler to the whole world. This presentation, which was a novelty, signalled the commencement of the installation ceremonies of the King-elect. It was indeed a new dawn in the annals of the Ijebu people. The King-elect thereafter proceeded to undergo the traditional seclusion otherwise known as “Ipebi” at the Odo for three months.
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who had earlier been nominated along with five others by the ODIS was unanimously selected by the King Makers in conformity with Section 11 of the Western Region Chiefs Law of 1957. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960.
On Tuesday, April 5, 1960, the newly crowned Oba Adetona took his seat as a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs. His nomination was prophetic as the 26 years old Awujale was at that early age perceived as a fit and proper king for the exalted position, which beyond every iota of doubt, continues to manifest in his unique and epochal reign. No doubt, this consideration was an admission of the uniqueness and leadership charisma of the Awujale. As if confirming the aphorism that a golden fist has no hiding place, the new Awujale was appointed by the Western Region Government as a Minister and member of the Region’s Executive Council.
This position he occupied until the outbreak of the Western Region’s political crisis of 1962.
With the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Western Region by the then Federal Government, the Administrator of the region Chief Dr. Moses Adekoye Majekodunmi found the services of the young Awujale indispensable. He was appointed a Commissioner during the emergency period.
Since 1960, Oba Adetona has succeeded in raising the status and reckoning of his Ijebu people. He is known and perceived as one of the country’s greatest monarchs – dead or alive. A philosopher and social scientist, his fame and popularity extend beyond the shores of Nigeria.
A creative and strategic ruler, Oba Adetona has been a significant factor in the nation’s socio-political and economic development.
Perhaps one can embark on the construction and situation of Oba Adetona from his posturing as a change master, a pragmatist, as an astute administrator, a nationalist, an incorruptible ruler, a spiritual leader and as a benevolent employer.
Oba Adetona as a Nationalist The Awujale is loyally and devotedly committed to the Nigerian State. He is indeed, a patriot. He has built bridges across Rivers-Niger and Benue.
He admonishes his people to be thoroughbred wherever they find themselves. No wonder, the Ijebu people have always comported themselves wherever they are. It is on record that no inter or intra-ethnic clash has been recorded in Ijebuland since he ascended the throne in 1960.
He was in the forefront of finding a national solution to the political logjam of 1993 to 1998.
Oba Adetona consulted widely and hosted several fora. He was never a sellout. He brokered peace and concord in 1998 and 1999 and the current major actors in the nation’s political parties will readily attest to this disclosure.
However, but for Oba Adetona’s unalloyed commitment to the nation, his pronouncement otherwise would have swayed public opinion in favour of those agitating for balkanization of Nigeria. Perhaps, if Nigeria had been abundantly blessed with Nationalists, such as Oba Adetona, the country will be nearing Eldorado, if not already there. The submission here is that more Monarchs and leaders of the pedigree of Oba Adetona are needed in Nigeria.”
“I state without equivocation that spoils of office cannot corrupt the monarch. He is just transparent and equitable. Oba Adetona loathes
indecency. He has been known to chastise corrupt leaders and quite often publicly denounce them. Woe betides any Ijebu person who gets his hands soiled while holding any office. Such an ljebu person has no home to return to. His long and enviable reign has not made Oba Adetona decay nor decompose.
During the dark days of the late maximum ruler, General Sanni Abacha, he was amongst the few leaders that stood to be counted on the side of history. Time has indeed vindicated him. Oba Adetona, to paraphrase Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819 – 1881), is one leader “who the lust of office does not kill”. leader “whom the spoils of office cannot buy”.
A monarch who “possesses opinions and a will”.
A king “who has honour, who will not lie”. A legend that has always “stood before a demagogue and dammed his treacherous flatteries without winking”. He is a monarch among monarchs to the extent that every successive administration in Ogun State and Nigeria holds him in high esteem. It is a manifestation of his incorruptibility and sagacity.
One additional way of looking at Oba Adetona is from the perspective of a monarch who passionately believes in Allah. Oba Adetona personifies Salih, which signifies behaviour that is righteous, just and dignified.
He has not only been a monarch but also the spiritual leader of his people.
He has immeasurably succeeded in bringing about religious harmony among his people to the extent that religion does not dichotomise the Ijebus. The Christians live in harmony with Muslims in Ijebuland. The traditionalists are equally not isolated. The common saying in Ijebu is that “religion cannot divide us”. The Holy Quran confirms this, to wit: “to you, your religion, and to me, my religion”. Albeit Oba Adetona, is the President-General of the Ogun State Muslim Council (an umbrella for Islamic Organization for Muslims), he attends several Christian functions and he is quite versed in Christianity. The Ijebu Christian community olds the New Year Prayer session in the Awujale Palace. Many of his high-ranking Otunbas and Chiefs are Christians. The Palace is an admixture of Christians and Muslims.
Oba Adetona’s purity and righteous deeds are accounting for his success in this world and God willing shall account for his securing al-janah (paradise) in the hereafter.
Given his spirituality, one is left in no doubt that Oba Adetona will reign for more decades as Allah guarantees longevity for leaders who fear Him and thread His path.
The reigning Awujale is one employer that has been showing goodwill, kindness and charity to his workers. For example, his Personal Driver who has been with him for over 30 years is a proud property owner in Ijebu-Ode, even though he is a non-Ijebu. His Personal Secretary and Escort driver enjoy similar benefits, while other cadres of employees enjoy a conducive operating environment. The attrition rate of employees in the Palace of Awujale is quite negligible, a pointer to industrial harmony and the quintessential employer that Oba Adetona is.
As a mentor, Oba Adetona provides extraordinary experiences for his employees and highlights the key ideas and information that make their work memorable and meaningful.
He gets his employees to make the most of a given situation. He reaches out to all his employees and Palace officials.
The modern Palace – the extension is an unsurpassable gift. Even though blessed with the wherewithal of life, Oba Adetona was able to mobilize his subjects in the 1980s to construct what is today the best ultra-modern Palace in the country. Four years ago, he was at it again to achieve the new Palace extension. The extension which is now completed has continued to serve a number of purposes – as the venue of the annual Ojude-Oba Festival (now an international socio-cultural festival), as a Royal Arcade, as a museum, as a library, as an archive, as a shopping complex and as a Tourists’ centre among others.
Attested fundraiser, he succeeded in getting subjects and friends of Ijebuland to raise over Seven hundred million naira (N700,000,000.00) for the construction of the Awujale Palace Extension. It can be said that the Ijebu people intended the Palace Extension named OBA SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA GOLDEN JUBILEE CENTRE as his 77th birthday cum 51st coronation anniversary gift.
The Awujale has used his sagacity and creative ingenuity to bring the traditional institution in tandem with civilization. The old and fetish.
There is no better way to conclude than to say that as a monarch, Oba Adetona has personal warmth and integrity. He has a positive attitude and a high energy level.
The Ijebu monarch has an enormous sense of humour. He is resilient, creative, sagacious, objective and incorruptible.
Oba Adetona has brought tremendous honour and dignity to the traditional institution, especially to the Ijebu Traditional Council. His records of excellent and unsurpassable service to his people and country are heartwarming. One issue agitating the mind of this quintessential monarch is the compelling urgency for the creation of an Ijebu State out of the present Ogun State. His subjects are unanimous with him in his quest. He has been leading the crusade for the actualization of Ijebu State, as it is incredibly unknown why the Ijebu nation has not been thought fit by successive administrations in Nigeria to deserve a State of its own when it constituted one of the twenty-four provinces at independence! The ljebu State will be another gift to this enigmatic monarch who is now 62 years and half years on the throne as Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland and 88 years old last May.
READ ALSO: HOW GOD TOLD ME TO LEAVE REAL ESTATE TO SERVE HIM – LAGOS PASTOR, GBENGA AKANJI
