A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Otunba Oladayo Ogunjebe has described the just departed Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Ogbaba II GCON, CFR as a man of candour and grace who served his people diligently for 64 years.
This is contained in a statement issued by Otunba Ogunjebe while reacting to the demise of the esteemed traditional ruler who passed away on Sunday.
In the statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, Otunba Ogunjebe described the late Oba Adetona as a rare breed who should be emulated by those in position of authority in the country.
“I received the news of the passing away of our most esteemed father in Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona with shock and heartfelt sadness considering the fact that the nation and particularly, the Ijebu people need him at these auspicious time.
“Reflecting further on our father’s Earthly sojourn, we however take solace in the fact that Oba Adetona lived a very fulfilling and impactful life that touched Nigerians and particularly, the people of Ijebuland positively,” Ogunjebe wrote.
He further added that the late Oba Adetona succeeded in uniting the Ijebu people while alive through culture and the spirit of communality which other townships and communities are now emulating.
“Through the annual Ojude Oba Festival and similar other platform, it must be said that Baba helped nurture bond and kinship amongst Ijebu people. These efforts have subsequently been copied and emulated by other communities and the worship not only in Yorubaland but across the country.
“This is so because other traditional rulers have found the need to reinvent their traditional festivals as a means of fostering bond and kinship amongst their people. Kudos for this goes to our just departed father,” Ogunjebe wrote.
Otunba Ogunjebe lauded the late monarch for the foresight, courage and strategy which he displayed by turning Ojude Oba Festival which hitherto was a family affair to a global franchise that not only become a cash cow to Ijebuland but has also generated interest from far and wide.
“We will not forget in a hurry, the pivotal role played by our esteemed departed father who turned the Ojude Oba Festival from an annual ritual of the Kuku family to a global franchise worth over $2b.
“It is instructive to also note that the Festival which has grown in leaps and bounds has continued not only to attract sons and daughters of Ijebuland from far and near, it has also stimulated interests from friends of Ijebuland people locally and internationally who would not wish to miss it for whatever reason.
“It must be noted that the weekend when the event holds, the epicenter of the festivities, Ijebu Ode witness inflow of foreign exchange from visitors from overseas this stimulating local economy,” Ogunjebe concluded.
