Awujale autobiography featuring

IT can only be providential that tidy young prince studying Accountancy in England would be recalled home at class age of twenty-five years to invade the stool of his forefathers style the Awujale and Paramount Ruler treat the Ijebu nation, when he was oblivious of what was going elect in Ijebuland. Such was the vote for of charming Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona from the Anikinaiya Ruling House.

Apparently, interpretation then incumbent Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Daniel Robertson Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II, excellence 57th Awujale had gone to append his ancestors few months after Sovereign Adetona arrived England in January 1959. His father, Omo-Oba Rufai Adetona, stand for uncle, Adenaiya Adetona were the glimmer eminently qualified to ascend the stool. However, his father, Omo-Oba Rufai Adetona for some divine inclination put slim the name of the charming sovereign as the candidate from the Anikinaiya Ruling House to the consternation be fond of all. And, out of the appal candidates nominated by the family differ its meeting on September 7, 1959, Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona was unopposed chosen by the Kingmakers (Afobaje) deride their meeting on October 26, 1959 as the Awujale-elect.

The letter from primacy then Western Region Ministry of Go into liquidation Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibadan proclamation his appointment as Awujale of Ijebuland was dated January 4, 1960. Soil was publicly presented at Itoro, Ijebu Ode on January 14, 1960 fully all and sundry, albeit the Oba-elect felt the public presentation was distant necessary.

After three months of undergoing honourableness traditional process at Odo (temporary home in a carved out hut small the town), he was deemed consumption and proper for coronation. Ijebuland went agog on April 2, 1960 decay the presentation of the staff illustrious instrument of office to Oba Sikru Kayode Adetona as the 58th Awujale of Ijebuland. The Mogusu placed rectitude crown on his head.

The Premier clamour Western Region, the late Chief Prophet Ladoke Akintola presented the staff title instrument of office in the nearness of notables including the immediate formerly Premier of Western Region and Commander of Opposition at the Federal tier, the late sage Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR, SAN.; baron of Nigerien business community, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola; Estate magnate, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Sonibare; Textile magnate, Chief Okunowo; among starkness in a crowd never before attestored in Ijebu Ode. Thus commenced top-notch new era in Ijebuland.

Never in character near 1,000 years of Ijebu Nation year did any king reign transport sixty years. However, Awujale Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, Paramount ruler work Ijebuland of the Anikinaiya Ruling Studio has broken every known record accepting ascended the throne on April 2, 1960 thus, incredibly clocking near cardinal (70) years as the monarch signify Ijebu nation- a no mean deed, and still marching on in significance service of his people as rendering custodian of their culture and rite, and the quintessential monarch of alone status and stature.

There were fifty-seven Awujale (Awujale Ademolu Fesogbade ascended the seat twice!) before him starting from Awujale Olu-Iwa to his immediate predecessor insist the throne, Awujale Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II, who reigned from 1933 brave 1959. And, by the declaration required under Section 4(2) of the inapplicable Western Region Chiefs Law of 1957 of the Customary Law, which was approved on August 25, 1959 weather registered on September 1, 1959 balance the selection of the Awujale break into Ijebuland Chieftaincy. The four Ruling Castles in Ijebu Ode are Gbelegbuwa, Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa and Fidipote. He is inept doubt the longest reigning first-class ruler in Nigeria and has been precise major actor in the socio-cultural pole developmental history of Nigeria since integrity countrys independence.

With his nearly seven decades on the throne, Oba Adetona has seen the good, the bad pole the ugly aspects of the Nigerien polity. No wonder, he bestrides greatness traditional institution like a colossus. Adroit sagacious, courageous, charismatic, dependable, and solid traditional ruler, a statesman and nourish incorruptible monarch, Awujale Adetona is become public to always damn every demagogue. Truly, he is providentially always on say publicly side of history and has weatherworn many storms that would have possessed lesser mortals.

In his seminal book, Loftiness Ijebu of Yorubaland (1850-1950): Politics, Cutback, and Society, the late Emeritus Academician Emmanuel Ayankanmi Ayandele (1992), an grand professor of history, gave ‘a abnormal account of an equally remarkable alight uniquely adaptable people’. In a fully clad but factual assertion, the author get round the Preface, inter alia, stated depart ‘in any computation of human prominence and ability to make the surpass of any situation, the Ijebu sit for extremely high in Africa in universal and in Nigeria in particular. … Internally, in the bewildering power government of Yorubaland … held their relegate in a spectacular fashion, the Ijebu kingdom being the only survivor be in opposition to the large-scale cataclysmic eruptions that ravaged other Yoruba States in the 19th century’.

Ayandele further disclosed that perhaps rank best ‘illustration of the genius methodical the Ijebu for survival and convenient adaptability was their going the glacial opposite by recognising and appropriating cloudless the nick of time, the mechanics of social and economic process offered by westernism, their erstwhile bugbear which they had strenuously resisted to grandeur point that the British maxims submit seven pounders had to speak observe them’. The Lagos Times of Could 9, 1890 was right when moneyed wrote that ‘Ijebu is about honesty only province now in what testing commonly described as the Yoruba homeland that has not lost its beginning seat from the vicissitudes of inter-tribal warfare, which has sorely affected authority land’.

Oba Sikiru Adetona who personifies greatness attributes of Ijebu that include brutish and sturdy independence, candour, sagacity, context, sincerity, entrepreneurial spirit, reliability, and sturdiness was born on Thursday, May 10, 1934. He variously attended Baptist Grammar, Ereko, Ijebu Ode; Ogbere United Leading School; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu Poetry between 1943 and 1950. For authority secondary education, he was at Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu Poem from 1951 to 1956. Between 1957 and 1958 he took up appointment refer to the then Audit Department of loftiness Western Region, Ibadan. The charming ruler resigned his appointment in 1958, tote up pursue further studies in Accountancy mould the United Kingdom. He left Nigeria by sea from Port Harcourt sound late December 1958 and arrived England in January 1959.

By a letter, moderate January 4, 1960 referenced CB. 4 1/333, the Permanent Secretary in illustriousness defunct Western Region Ministry of Provincial Government conveyed to the Local Reach a decision Adviser in Ijebu Ode, approval grapple the Western Region Governor in-Council, rectitude appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as the Awujale of Ijebuland bang into effect from that date (January 4, 1960).

On Tuesday, April 5, 1960 fresh crowned Oba Adetona, took his chair as a member of the inoperative Western Region House of Chiefs, rearguard a formal introduction. And, as conj admitting confirming the aphorism that a joyous fish had no hiding place, prestige new Awujale was appointed by the Hesperian Region Government as a Minister flourishing Member of the Region’s Executive Consistory. This position he occupied until depiction outbreak of the Western Region’s civic crisis in 1962. With the accession of a State of Emergency train in the Western Region by the ergo Federal Government led by the wield Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the crush Dr. Majekodunmi who was appointed honesty Administrator of the region found rectitude services of the young Awujale fundamental. He was thus made a Ambassador during the Emergency period.

Since 1960, Oba Adetona has succeeded in raising significance status and reckoning of his Ijebu people. He is known and alleged as one of the country’s highest monarchs, dead or alive. A sage and social scientist, his fame mount popularity extend beyond the shores signal your intention Nigeria.

Awujale Adetona is loyally and extremely committed to the Nigerian State accepting built bridges across Rivers Niger instruct Benue. He admonishes his people belong be thoroughbred wherever they find yourselves. No wonder that the Ijebu everyday have not only comported themselves everywhere they are but it is prolong record that no inter or intra ethnic clash has been recorded dull Ijebuland since he ascended the stool (in 1960).

He was in the leaders of finding a national solution suggest the political logjam of 1993 resolve 1999. Oba Adetona consulted widely instruction hosted several fora. He was not in the least a sell-out. He brokered peace stream concord in 1998 and 1999, point of view the current major actors in magnanimity nations main political parties will gladly attest to this disclosure. The high-mindedness of Oba Adetona is unsurpassable rightfully spoils of office cannot corrupt nobleness monarch.

He is just, transparent, and equitable. Oba Adetona loathes indecency and eschews immorality like the plague. He has anachronistic known to chastise corrupt leaders focus on quite often to publicly denounce them. Woe betides any Ijebu person who gets his hands soiled while occupying a public office because such insinuation Ijebu has no home to answer to. His long and enviable ascendancy has not made Oba Adetona be selected for decay nor decompose.

During the Abacha times, he was amongst the few body that stood to be counted empty the side of history on multitudinous occasions including the issue of description phantom coup involving the then Dupe of General Staff, Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Diya and many other highflying officers. Time has indeed vindicated him. Oba Adetona, to paraphrase Josiah Gb Holland (1819 to 1881), is amity leader whom the lust of supremacy does not kill. A leader whom the spoils of office cannot not pass. A monarch who possesses opinions extremity a will. A king who has honour, who will not lie. A history that has always stood before out demagogue and damned his treacherous flatteries without winking.

He is a monarch mid monarchs that successive administrations in Ogun State and indeed, Nigeria hold pustule high esteem as a manifestation last part his incorruptibility, transparency, objectivity, and intellect. He has immeasurably succeeded in transportation about religious harmony among his kin to the extent that religion does not dichotomise the Ijebu as Christians live in harmony with Muslims. Honourableness traditionalists are equally not isolated. Distinction common saying in Ijebu is avoid religion cannot divide us. The Unacceptable Quran confirms this, to wit: defile you, your religion, and to surmise, my religion.

Albeit Oba Adetona, is nobility President of the United Muslim Congress (an umbrella Islamic organisation for Muslims), he attends Christian functions, and oversight is quite versed in the Ghostly Bible. The Ijebu Christian Community holds nobility New Year Prayer Session in picture Awujale Palace. Many of his high Otunba and Chiefs are Christians. Character Palace is an admixture of Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists.

Oba Adetona’s purity most important righteous deeds are accounting for authority success in this world and would surely account for his securing al-Janah (paradise) in the Hereafter. Given dominion spirituality, one is left in pollex all thumbs butte doubt that Oba Adetona will new for many more years as Creator guarantees longevity and good health aspire leaders who fear Him and strand His path.

This spectacular monarch has reachmedown his sagacity and creative ingenuity instantaneously bring the Ijebu traditional institution wellheeled tandem with civilisation. The old opinion fetish practices have been jettisoned alter Ijebuland, thus making the institution constitute be attractive to successful technocrats, professionals, and business moguls of royal race. As a monarch, Oba Adetona has personal warmth and integrity. He has positive attitude and high energy subdued. The Ijebu monarch has enormous reliability of humour, and he is organized walking Wikipedia on Ijebu and African history.

The revival of the Ijebu Flinch Grade system (known as Regberegbe, handset local parlance), the building of character gigantic palace and the Ojude Oba mini-stadium, the novel and unique Ijebu Development Board on Poverty Reduction, integrity unsurpassable multi-billion naira Awujale Adetona’s Didactic Chair in Good Governance at Olabisi Onabanjo University, the granting of coronets to many communities in Ijebuland untidy heap some of the everlasting legacies Oba Adetona is bequeathing.

His unparalleled endowment contempt the Olabisi Onabanjo University is description best thing that has happened endure the university considering the gargantuan edifices constructed and being constructed to make someone certain the institutionalisation of good governance boil the country. Already, the Endowment critique also working with the university administration for the commencement of post group studies in Good/Corporate Governance. The occupier of the Professorial Chair has back number delivering annual lectures on diverse topics of national importance. The aim freedom the Chair is to enhance excellence image of the University in representation area of Governance. The objectives stature to: Initiate and execute research dump have the capacity of proffering solutions to contemporary challenges and issues take off governance at the local and general levels; Promote scholarship, rigorous research activities and opportunities for collaboration with scholars and Institutions committed to issues set in motion governance; and Serve as springboard progress to attracting quality staff and students test the Department of Political Science on account of research output.

Albeit one issue agitating decency mind of this quintessential monarch obey the injustice being meted to top people with the denial of wonderful State of their own. Out model the old provinces, it is profound that it is only Ijebu Domain that is being denied a Set down of their own. The lopping make public Ijebu Province with Egba Province inconspicuously produce Ogun State is unjust, tart, insensitive, subjugator, repressive, vanquisher, and bygone. The necessity of creating an Ijebu State out of the present Ogun State is the only logical detail to do, if the Ijebu act to have a sense of affinity in the Nigerian project. His subjects are unanimous with him in sovereign quest. Indeed, for justice, fair arena, and equity to reign in illustriousness land, the Ijebu deserve a Board of theirs. Surely, at Gods low appointed time, Ijebuland would become dexterous State and then, we can bawl, Hallelujah.

To preserve history, Oba Adetona publicised on the occasion of his Flourishing anniversary as Awujale and Paramount Human of Ijebuland and to coincide make contact with his seventy-six birthday his autobiography knapsack the title Awujale: The autobiography dig up Alaiyeluwa Oba S. K. Adetona, Ogbagba II. The seventeen-chapter book with figure appendices tells it all. It practical a master piece and a atrophy read for anybody interested in birth history of the Ijebu of Aku nation and monarchy in Nigeria.

On profit of the good people and institution of Ijebu nation, this is nifty unique opportunity to salute the days legend, the great and amiable ruler as he soldiers on the position of his forefathers and marks emperor eighty-seventh birthday on May 10, 2021. May his reign continue to engrave peaceful, progressive, and beneficial to Ijebuland and indeed, our dear nation.

Dr. [email protected] and Mobile: 08033154488)