Call it a triple celebration and you certainly wonβt be wrong. The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, on May, 10, 2024, gathered some of the most powerful personalities in the land to celebrate three significant milestones with him.
First, the highly revered monarch was celebrating his 90th birthday. Second, he was also celebrating his 64 years on the throne, making him the longest reigning monarch in the country and possibly one of the longest reigning kings in the world. Finally, he was also commissioning the Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies complex, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago-Iwoye. All of these were part of the week long activities lined up to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of Yoruba landβs most admired and respected monarchs.
The event hall named Ogbagba hall, after the monarch, was filled to overflowing. Everyone that mattered in Ogun State was present at the event. From the various royal fathers spread across some of the biggest towns in Ijebu land to captains of industry and politicians of repute.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife were in attendance along side prominent Ijebu high chiefs led by the Ogbeni Oja himself, (Dr.) Olorogun Sunny Kuku. Several senators, serving and former, House of Representatives members, both serving and former, spread across the country, were gathered at the event to celebrate with the Awujale.
Ministers, serving and former, like Dr. Mrs. Onikepo Akande, were also in attendance. The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was also present to felicitate with the paramount ruler of Ijebu land.
The high point of the event undoubtedly was when President Bola Tinubu conferred on the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) to mark the monarchβs 90th birthday celebration. This clearly took everyone by surprise as no one saw it coming. The President, who was ably represented by the vice President Kashim Shettima,, said the revered monarch deserved the honour because of his contributions to national building and meritorious service to humanity.
Just before the Vice President made the announcement, many of the guests present mustβve been puzzled when, in the middle of his speech, he demanded that everyone paid attention to what he was about to say. He went to specifically ask the Awujaleβs Olori to put aside her phone and listen to what he was about to say next. And that was when he dropped the big news that the Awujale, Paramount ruler of Ijebu land, had been conferred with the second highest title in the land, the GCON.
The entire hall promptly rose to its feet in resounding applause as dignitaries took turns to congratulate the birthday boy. Apart from the commissioning and unveiling of the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies, there was also the presentation of a book titled; βReinventing Governance in Nigeria: The Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Model.β The voluminous book was shared around and given to almost everyone in the hall.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who spoke through his representative, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, noted that the numerous contributions of Oba Adetona to national development, particularly in the education sector have expanded the sector to optimal delivery through various donations and endowments.
He described the monarch as forthright with exceptional character who stood his ground and confronted injustice in all ramifications, commending him for his role in ensuring the return of democratic governance in Nigeria. The President went on to aver that Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies would be taken over and managed by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
βBecause Kabiyesi Adetona has honoured our country and humanity with his many years of meritorious service, I, therefore, on this occasion of his 90th birthday ceremony confer on him the second highest National honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
βThe National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, will be asked to take over the running and management of Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies,β the Vice President announced to the gathering.
The event, anchored by the very beautiful Mrs. Afolake Badejo, Dr. Fassy Yusuf and Hon. Tunde Gazal was pretty well coordinated. Shortly after the national anthem was sang, the vice chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor Ayodeji Agboola, mounted the stage to read the welcome address. This was followed by a brief speech about the School of Governance Studies by Professor Adetutu Adetona- Anyaegbunam, the Chairperson Governing Board, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Sdtudies.
Another significant part of the event was the presentation of the book titled: Reinventing Governance In Nigeria: The Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona model.
For many, the high point of the occasion would be the bringing together of four Ogun governors, three of them former governors and one serving governor. It is an open secret that that there is an unending hostility between former governors of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ibikunle Amosun and Governor Dapo Abiodun. It is so very rare to find all these four governors sitting together under one roof.
At Awujaleβs event, they just did not sit under one roof, they sat close to each other and shared banters together. Even after the event was officially over, the four of them could still be seen stepping out of the hall together and laughing and enjoying each otherβs company. It was indeed a rare sight to behold. People were nudging each other, pointing in the direction of these four illustrious sons of Ogun State as they were stunned to find the four men who many thought had been politically torn apart speaking freely together and savouring the joy of the ocassion.
Many agreed that only one person couldβve achieved this feat, and that is the Awujale himself. Not many couldβve achieved what the Awujale achieved, bringing these four political gladiators together under one roof without any fireworks going off in the process. It was indeed a pleasant sight to behold and many Ogun sons and daughters would certainly hope they will continue to see more of this type of reunion amongst the many politicians in the state who barely speak to each other.
Credit: City People
