By Steve Olugbolahan KUKU
13th day of July 2025, news broke that the Awujale of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Sikiru Olukayode Adetona; Ogbagba Agb’otewole II made a journey of no return to join his ancestors! It was a great departure indeed. The longest reigning Awujale in the history of the Ijebu nation and arguably the greatest of them has finally taken a bow… In Yoruba culture, kings never die; they only ascend to join the “Hall of Fame”. While alive, they are eulogized as deputy deities “Igbakeji orisa” and when they transit, they advance in their journeys to become substantive deities… Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona becomes a deity this day!
Awujale Sikiru Adetọna was born on the 10th day of May 1934 into the Royal House of Anikinaiya at his father’s house in Imupa, Ijebu Ode. His father Prince Rufai Adetọna Adeleke (born 1902), was a son of Ọba Adeleke, Ọgbagba Agbotewole I (1825–1906), the Awujalẹ of Ijẹbuland from 1895 to 1906. His mother was Ajibabi Ọnaṣile, who was from the town of Ijebu Igbo. The founding father of the Royal House of Anikinaiya was his great-grandfather Oba Anikinaiya Figbajoye Agboogunsa I, (1775–1854) who reigned from 1821 to 1854, and who himself was a son of Ọba Gbelegbuwa. As a member of the Royal House of Anikinaiya, his paternal family claims descent from Olu-Iwa, the legendary first Awujalẹ and Ọbanta, founder of the substantive Ijẹbu kingdom. He was installed as king on April 2, 1960 as such being one of the longest reigning monarchs in Nigeria and Africa today.
What Manner of Love…
I notice with much admiration, the sacrifice of Kabiyesi Sikiru Adetona’s father; Prince Rufai Adetọna Adeleke. When the royal seat of the Awùjalè became vacant after Oba Daniel Adesanya (Gbelegbuwa II) went to join his ancestors in December 1959, the lot fell upon Prince Rufai Adetona Adeleke to be the next Awùjalè of Ijebu land. He was just 58 years old as of 1960 and was, of course, virile and healthy enough to be active as king. Being a direct son of a past Awùjalè Adeleke Ogbagba Agbotewole I was more than enough impetus for him to ` reign after witnessing the reigns of 6 Awùjalès after his father, through a time lag of 53 years. Furthermore, Prince Adetona was a child of his father’s old age, as he was born when his father Oba Adeleke (who was on the throne at the time of his birth), was 77 years old! Most importantly; Prince Adetona was an “Abídàgbà” (a child born while his father was on the throne as reigning king). In Ijebu culture, an Abídàgbà was most eligible to the throne at the passing of his father, the king; much more qualified than his elder brothers who had been born before their father’s ascension to the throne! He must have been strongly advised based on all of the above facts to take his rightful place as the next Awùjalè.
Against all the odds in his favour, this 58-year-old Abídàgbà opted for his 26-year-old son (who at the time had traveled to England for overseas studies) to come back home and be king in his stead… What a sacrifice! This show of sacrifice and parental love was to pave the way for a very historic reign of one of the longest-reigning kings in Africa!
Without recourse to the reigns of Olu Iwa and Oshin whose tenure we could not confirm from available records; Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona (Ogbagba II) was the longest reigning Awujale in the history of Ijebu!
Education
The then Prince Kayode Adetọna attended various schools such as Baptist School, Ereko Ijẹbu-Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijẹbu-Igbo; and Ansar- Ud-Deen School, Ijebu-Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he attended Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutọla) College, Ijebu-Ode from 1951 to 1956. Between 1957 and 1958, he took up employment with the Audit Department of the then Western Region in Ibadan. The prince resigned his appointment in 1958 to pursue further studies in accountancy in the United Kingdom.
Ascension to the Throne
By a letter dated 4th January 1960, referenced CB.41/333, the Permanent Secretary in the then Western Region Ministry of Local Government conveyed to the Local Government Adviser in Ijẹbu Ode the approval of the Western Region Governor in Council, the appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as king! His confirmation as the new Awùjalè of Ijebuland was with effect from that date (January 4, 1960). It became the lot of notable Ijẹbu Chiefs like the then Ọgbẹni-Ọja, Chief (Dr.) Timothy Adeọla Odutọla, Bọbasuwa I – Chief Emmanuel Okusanya Okunọwọ (MBE, KFNM); and Aṣiwaju Chief Samuel Ọlatubọsun Ṣhonibare (all of blessed memory) to arrange for the home-coming of the king-in-waiting. On January 18, 1960, the Head of the Ijẹbu Ode Regency Council, the Ọgbeni-Ọja, Chief Timothy Adeọla Odutọla, formally presented the new traditional ruler to the whole world. This presentation signaled the beginning of the installation ceremonies of the approved candidate for the throne. It was indeed, a new dawn in the annals of Ijẹbu people. The king-elect thereafter proceeded to undergo the traditional seclusion rites at the Odo for three months.

Oba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna, who had earlier been nominated along with five others by the Odis was unanimously selected by the kingmakers in conformity with Section 11 of the Chiefs Law of 1957 applicable in Western Region. The then Governor signed the Instrument of Office approving Prince Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna as Awujalẹ of Ijẹbuland. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960.
Obviously, it was this sacrificial love of a father for his son that paved the way for the longest and most progressive mornachial reign that Ijebu land has yet witnessed! 58-year-old Late Prince Rufai Adetona Adeleke relinquished his right to the throne for his 26-year-old son. And here we are today celebrating a colossus that will forever be remembered in Ijebuland and Africa! Adieu His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Sikiru Oluwakayode Adetona; Ogbagba Agbotewole II, Awujale of Ijebuland…