The remains of the late Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, were committed to the earth in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State in line with with the Islamic faith.
The late Adetona vehemently advocated a demised Ijebu monarch should be buried according to requirements of the monarch’s religion.
The nonagenarian and longest reigned traditional ruler in the Southwest was interred in a dome – like mausoleum at his private residence, Ogbagba Court Igbeba, Ijebu Ode around 6pm after Islamic rites presided over by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo.
The ready-made tomb was constructed by the late Awujale besides his parents.
Moves by traditionalists, who arrived in large numbers ostensibly to perform the age-long traditional rites, were rebuffed.
They were asked to leave the venue by security operatives that included personnel of the Army.
Eminent Nigerians who trooped into the residence to bid him final farewell included the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as well as Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who joined his Ogun counterpart Dapo Abiodun for the funeral rites.
Also on ground to pay last respect was the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who led a Federal Government delegation that included the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Prince Gboyega Odetola, to Ijebu Ode for the funeral rites of Awujale which was delayed for about two hours.
The paramount Ijebu monarch passed away at 91.
Others included the former Ogun Governors Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola; former Deputy Governor, Senator Gbenga Kaka, as well as the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriations, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola among others.
Daniel told reporters: “Without any doubt. The situation in Ijebuland cannot be the same again because the people had been used to paternal support of the great grand father, who had navigated the land successfully and the people of this community has no choice than to come together to continue from where Kabiyesi has left off.
“It is common knowledge that in Kabiyesi Awujale, you have a forthright personality, who can speak truth to all at a time, who can be described as fearless who abhors people telling lies and who is very straight forward to a fault.
“Kabiyesi is not used to anybody who is diplomatic. He says it as it is. At the end of the day, in the course of that, he garnered his own detractors. People have said that he successfully won all the battles. He was strong from the beginning to the end I guess that the testimony as to the kind of life he lived was that he was indeed a forthright personality”.
