Tinubu Hails Late Awujale as Symbol of Integrity Amid Burial Controversy
President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing him as a beacon of integrity, humility, and selfless service.
Speaking during the eighth-day Fidau prayer held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the President reflected on the monarch’s legacy and deep-rooted impact on the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.
“Today marks a significant day in our nation’s history, particularly in the history of the Yoruba people. Nowhere will you find a better definition of our culture than in the life of the late Awujale,” President Tinubu said.
The revered monarch, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 91, was buried the following day according to Islamic rites—a decision consistent with the monarch’s personal faith and a stance he championed during his lifetime.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to uphold the values that Oba Adetona embodied. “To honour this great man, we must be more united, bonded in the spirit he left behind, and appreciate his legacy, even in death.”
He also recalled the monarch’s role in his political journey. “I came to him for prayers before the election, and he gave me his blessings. I succeeded because of your support and the blessings of the late Awujale… He said, ‘You will win that election.’”
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who hosted the event, praised President Tinubu’s attendance, calling it a symbol of the deep bond between the late king and the nation’s leadership.
“Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona was more than a monarch. His 65-year reign brought remarkable development, not only to Ijebuland but to the entire Western region and Nigeria,” the governor said.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Governor Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and former Ogun State Governors Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun.
The ceremony featured Islamic prayers, personal tributes, and reflections on the king’s transformative reign.
Despite the dignified farewell, the burial of the late monarch has sparked ongoing controversy within traditionalist circles. Oba Adetona, a devout Muslim, was buried according to Islamic customs—a decision that reignited the debate over how Yoruba kings should be buried.
As early as 2020, the monarch had advocated for the right of traditional rulers to be buried according to their personal religious beliefs, rather than strictly by traditional rites. This led to the enactment of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law in 2022, which permits monarchs to choose the mode of their burial.
However, not all were pleased with the decision. On the day of the burial, tensions escalated when Adedire Adetona, the late king’s eldest son, reportedly barred traditionalists from entering the burial grounds.
Videos circulating online later showed several Yoruba traditional leaders expressing disapproval over what they viewed as a deviation from ancestral norms.
They warned that such actions could erode Yoruba heritage and called for stricter oaths to be administered to future kings, compelling them to uphold traditional customs. Some even suggested that monarchs unwilling to observe Yoruba rites should renounce the throne altogether.
The late Awujale’s burial may have fulfilled his personal wishes, but it also served as a flashpoint in the growing debate between modern religious rights and preservation of cultural heritage within Yoruba kingship. Read More
