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BREAKING: Nigeria Mourns Again — Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Dies at 91 After 65 Years on the Throne
Royal giant passes just hours after former President Buhari, deepening national grief

Nigeria has been thrown into deeper mourning as news emerges of the passing of Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland — one of the country’s most iconic and longest-reigning monarchs. He died at the age of 91, after an extraordinary 65-year reign that began on April 2, 1960.

A respected voice in national affairs and a symbol of continuity in Nigeria’s ever-changing political landscape, Oba Adetona’s passing comes just hours after the reported death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, marking a double tragedy for the nation.

According to palace sources who spoke with SaharaReporters, the revered ruler passed away in a Lagos hospital. However, no official announcement has been made yet due to traditional and constitutional protocols that involve the Ogun State Government.

“It is confirmed, but we cannot officially announce it yet,” the palace source said.
“You know he was a prominent king, and such matters must follow due traditional and state procedures.”

A Towering Legacy
Oba Adetona was a proud descendant of the royal House of Anikinaiya and was widely acknowledged as a bold and progressive monarch who wasn't afraid to weigh in on national issues. He was admired for his wisdom, candor, and unshakable dedication to the Ijebu people and Nigeria at large.

His voice was often a guiding one, especially in moments of national crisis. His passing, alongside that of President Buhari, is being viewed not just as a generational loss — but as the close of a historic chapter in Nigeria’s traditional and political heritage.

As the nation awaits official confirmation and funeral details, tributes are already pouring in for a king whose legacy will not be forgotten.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna