The remain of Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, has been laid to rest at his private residence in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Monday.
The first-class monarch, who died on Sunday evening at 91, was buried according to the Islamic rite.
The private burial rite was performed in the presence of dignitaries, royal family members, and high chiefs of the Ijebu traditional council.
Many prominent Nigerians, Noimot Oyedele, deputy governor of Ogun; Segun Osoba, ex-governor of Ogun; and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos; Aliko Dangote, billionaire businessman; Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate; and Gbenga Daniel, another former governor of Ogun, were all present at the burial.
Adetona, who ascended the throne in 1960, is one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning monarchs and a revered figure in Yoruba land.
Recall that the late monarch initiated a bill titled “State Traditional Rulers (Installation and Burial Rites) Bill 2020” that was sent to the house of assembly, the assembly passed the bill, and signed it into law in 2022.
“Of course this is without prejudice to traditional rites that is meant to be performed by the customary, but it clarifies and removes any ambiguity about the fact that the families of our Kabiyesis (monarch) now have a say in how they want our royal fathers to be buried and I think this is very laudable” – Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State governor, said in January 2022.
