By Lukman Omikunle
“Your Crown May Rest, But Your Legacy Remains Lifted” – Balogun Fasasi Adesoye Onasanya Family Pays Tribute to Awujale
The Balogun Fasasi Adesoye Onasanya Family has expressed profound sorrow over the passing of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON, Ogbagba II, describing his 65-year reign as a monumental era that shaped the heritage and identity of the Ijebu people.
In a heartfelt tribute, the family eulogized the revered monarch as “more than a king,” lauding him as “the living embodiment of duty, grace, and visionary leadership.”
“Kabiyesi was more than a king. He was the living embodiment of duty, grace, and visionary leadership. Throughout his decades of service, he remained deeply connected to his people, listening, guiding, and acting with sincerity and strength,” the tribute read. “His selflessness was not performative. It was a quiet force that shaped lives, uplifted communities, and safeguarded the dignity of our culture.”
The family reflected on cherished personal moments shared with the late monarch — filled with dialogue, laughter, and deep counsel — which revealed the humanity and unwavering commitment that characterized his reign.
“He made service look noble. He made kingship feel personal,” the tribute stated.
A significant portion of the message paid homage to the longstanding relationship between the monarch and the Onasanya lineage. According to the Balogun Fasasi Adesoye Onasanya Family, Oba Adetona shared a deep bond with their late patriarch, Balogun Fasasi Adesoye Onasanya — a bond that was marked by mutual respect and cultural legacy.
“Through that special bond, he honored Otunba Olatunji Agoro Adesoye (late) with the Otunba Taiyese of Ijebu land, Chief Aderemi Ligali Adesoye with Chief Gbaderogun of Ijebu Land, and Otunba Adegboyega Adesoye with Otunba Gbaderogun and Osi Balogun of Ijebu Land,” they recalled. “These honors were more than tradition. They reflected the Awujale’s faith in leadership rooted in integrity, loyalty, and cultural stewardship.”
The tribute also expressed regret that the monarch did not live to witness the realization of his long-held dream of an independent Ijebu State, a cause he championed passionately until his final days.
“It weighs heavily on our hearts that Kabiyesi did not live to see the realization of the Ijebu State he so passionately pursued. He fought for this vision tirelessly — not for power, but for the pride and progress of his people.”
As they bid farewell to the royal icon, the family described him as “a father figure, a guardian of tradition, and a soul whose impact will echo through the corridors of Ijebu history.”
“Kabiyesi, rest well. Your footprints are immortal. Your spirit, irreplaceable,” the family stated. Read More
