More Wins For Oba Sikiru Adetona

THeawujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who is looking forward to marking his 87 birthday come May 10, has not stopped receiving congratulatory messages from family, friends, well- wishers and Ijebu indigenes across the world, following his recent 61st coronation anniversary held days back.

What made the celebration grand is the fact that no monarch in the history of Ijebu land has ever reigned for 61 years, except the Awujale, who has broken that record.

Having ascended throne on April 2, 1960, he is no doubt the longest- reigning first- class monarch in Nigeria and has been a major factor in the socio- cultural and developmental history of Nigeria since the country’s independence.

With his six decades on the throne, Oba Adetona has seen the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the Nigerian polity. No wonder, he bestrides the traditional institution like a colossus.

A courageous, charismatic, dependable and reliable traditional ruler, statesman and an incorruptible monarch, Oba Adetona is known to be a perfect gentleman. Indeed, he is providently always on the side of history and has weathered many storms that could have consumed lesser mortals.

Oba Adetona, who personifies the attributes of Ijebu that include candour, objectivity, sincerity, entrepreneurial spirit, reliability and resoluteness, was born on Thursday, May 10, 1934. He attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu- Ode; Ogbere United Primary School and Ansar- U- Deen School, Ijebu- Ode between 1943 and 1950.

He was crowned on April 5, 1960 at age of 26 as Awujale of Ijebu land. Since his coronation, he has succeeded in raising the status and reckoning of his Ijebu people and seen by many 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. He is loyal and committed to the Nigerian State, having built bridges across Rivers Niger and Benue.

The Awujale always admonishes his subjects to be thoroughbred wherever they find themselves. Little wonder the Ijebu have not only comported themselves wherever they are found, but have also had no record of inter or intra- ethnic clash in Ijebuland since he ascended the throne.