President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, attended the eighth-day Fidau prayers for the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, paying tribute to him as a confidant, father-figure and royal figure par excellence.
In a solemn message posted via his verified X handle, President Tinubu reflected on the personal loss he experienced with the deaths of both men, describing them as individuals he held in the “highest esteem.”
He stated: “Last Sunday, within hours, I lost two men I held in the highest esteem: my dear predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Kabiyesi, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who joined his ancestors after over 65 remarkable years on the throne.”
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) July 20, 2025
“Kabiyesi was more than a royal father to me. He was a confidante, a guide, and a man of truth whose wisdom never failed to steady those who sought it,” Tinubu stated.
He extolled the late monarch’s legacy of service and integrity, highlighting his rare leadership qualities and unwavering dedication to his people.
“In over six decades on the throne, he ruled with rare dignity, candour, and courage, always putting the people first with an unmistakable sense of duty.”
Tinubu acknowledged the profound impact of Oba Adetona’s death on Nigeria’s traditional institution, especially in Yorubaland.
“Oba Adetona’s demise has left an enormous void within the traditional institutions in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general. His voice, leadership, and generosity will echo far beyond Ijebuland,” he said.
The President capped his tribute with a prayer: “May Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort all who mourn him.”
Persecondnews recalls that Adetona, the late President Buhari’s friend, who reigned for 65 years, was one of Nigeria’s longest-serving traditional rulers in the country.
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