AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND, OBA SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA, DIES AT 91

The revered monarch, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, has passed away at the age of 91. The monarch died on Sunday, hours after the announcement of the death of his longtime friend and former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Oba Adetona, who ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, reigned for over 64 years, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Nigerian history. Born on May 10, 1934, he was a member of the House of Anikinaiya and was installed as king at a relatively young age.

The monarch’s death comes as a shock to his subjects and the wider Nigerian community. Until his demise, Oba Adetona served as a symbol of unity and stability in the Ijebu Kingdom, a traditional state in Nigeria.

The timing of his death is particularly poignant, given that it occurred just hours after the announcement of the passing of his long-time friend, Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a clinic in London, United Kingdom, after battling illness for some time.