If you were at the last Ojude Oba, you will have every cause to appreciate the flamboyance, colour and strength that marked the royal parade of warriors that came to pay homage to their king in a majestic horse ride at his sprawling palace.
Yet, the Ijebu people of Ogun State from across the world rolled out the best of their drums recently in Ijebu Ode to celebrate their king who just turned 80 years.
A UK-trained accountant, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, truly deserves the praises because of his esteemed personality and insistence on preserving the Ijebu heritage and culture since ascending the throne in 1960, at a youthful age of 26.
Today, the Awujale of Ijebuland, born on May 10, 1934, to the Anikilaya Ogbaba Royal Family of Ijebu Ode, is one of the longest serving traditional rulers in Nigeria, having ruled for 54 years as monarch.
The peace, harmony and progress witnessed in Ijebuland today testify to his acceptance by all the people, faiths, and cultures in the land. Of course, it is a credit to the king-makers who unanimously selected him among five other princes nominated by the Anikilaya Ruling House in 1960.
Then, the Western Region government who found no guile in him and in conformity with Section II of the Chief Law of 1957, quickly approved the appointment of Prince Adetona as the Awujale of Ijebuland.
But today, a lot of people wonder how the paramount ruler have scaled through the challenges of leadership in his kingdom over these 54 years. The Oba ascribes his success to loyalty and patriotism of his people toward the progress of the kingdom.
“The Ijebus are very honest and responsible people who have excelled in all spheres of national endeavours, including commerce, politics, sports, education, among others,” the monarch says.
Of course, they (the Ijebus) rallied round the Oba in the six-day events marking his 80 years birthday celebration under the auspice of Ijebu Renaissance Group.
Today, the loving people of Ijebus are at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Italo Wajoda-Ijasi, Ijebu Ode for a special Thanksgiving Service to mark the celebration, while there will also be a special prayer at the Ijebu Ode Central Mosque. Other activities of the six-day event, which starts May 4, 2014, include: a colloquium on Ijebu nation, a Coffee-Table Book presentation on Oba Adetona, and Awards ceremony, and Awards for the winners of the Oba S.K Adetona Essay Writing Competitions at both tertiary institutions and secondary schools’ levels. Others are the maiden edition of Awujale Adetona Football Competition, Grand Reception at the Oba S.K. Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre, Ijebu Ode, and the grand finale.
As Abiodun Sobanjo, chairman of the sub-planning committee of the anniversary, assured earlier in a media parley, Nigeria’s rich hectic culture was at its utmost colourful and informative display at the ceremony.
Obinna Emelike
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