Senator Kola Balogun has described the passage of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, as the loss of an iconic traditional ruler to Yoruba people of the South-Western Nigeria.
Balogun, a member of the ninth National Assembly, Senator (Dr) Kola Balogun, stated this in a statement, on Tuesday, to commiserate with the government and people of Ogun State on the demise of the traditional ruler.
The statement was issued by the former lawmaker who represented Oyo South Senatorial District, about 24 hours after the remains of the deceased Awujale were committed to mother earth in Ijebu-Ode.
The late Awujale, Oba Adetona (91), reigned between 2 April, 1960 to 13 July 13 2025, a period of 65 years, making him one of the oldest reigning traditional rulers in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general.
Senator Balogun, in a glowing tribute to the late Awujale, described him as first among equals in the midst of his colleague-obas because of his courage, discipline and forthrightness.
The former federal lawmaker also noted that the late Awujale remained one of the highly respected obas across the country.
“Oba Adetona,” he said, “was a man of few words and those words could not be ignored whenever he chose to speak because he was not given to frivolities and this earned him a lot of respect, not only among his colleague-obas, but among every strata of the society.
“Kabiyesi would forever be remembered for his attribute of saying it as it is.”
He also recalled the prominence the annual Ojude Oba Festival attained during the reign of the late Awujale and the mileage it had given Ijebu-Ode and Nigeria in general in the area of tourism, describing it as imperishable legacy.
He commiserated with the family of Oba Adetona, the governor and the people of Ogun State and prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Oba by the Almighty Allah, that He would also uphold the family.
Senator Balogun also prayed that God will guide and guard the process of selecting a successor towards having a worthy prince whose legs would fit the big shoes left behind by the late Awujale.
