Daud Olatunji
In a momentous celebration of heritage and service, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has bestowed upon Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), the second highest national honour.
The ceremony, held on Friday, marked the monarch’s 90th birthday anniversary.
Tinubu’s speech, delivered by VP Shettima, underscored the profound significance of Oba Adetona’s contributions to his community and the nation at large.
Despite being unable to attend personally due to state duties, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt admiration for the revered royal father’s enduring legacy.
He said throughout his reign of 64 years, Oba Adetona exemplified exceptional leadership, wisdom, and commitment to duty.
According to the president, Awujale’s steadfast resolve during Nigeria’s struggle for democratic rule between 1993 and 1999 earned him acclaim as a champion of justice and democracy.
President Tinubu lauded Oba Adetona’s courageous stance against injustice, which played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
“Moreover, Oba Adetona’s commitment to education and intellectual advancement was recognized as he endowed a professorial chair at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and funded the establishment of the Post-Graduate School on Policy and Governance Studies.
President Tinubu emphasized the importance of Oba Adetona’s educational legacy, which will now be further amplified through the management of the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the conferral of the GCON on Oba Adetona symbolizes the nation’s deep appreciation for his decades of exemplary service and dedication.
FULL SPEECH ;
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AS READ BY VP KASHIM SHETTIMA ON THE OCCASION OF 90TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF HRM OBA SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA, THE AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND ON MAY 10, 2024
Protocols
We are here today to celebrate and rejoice with an outstanding and extraordinary monarch on the occasion of his 90th birthday anniversary.
It also gladdens my heart to see the Awujale in his full glory and majesty attain this important milestone.
I had planned to personally attend this epoch-making event as a mark of honour to our reverred royal father. I returned from my travel abroad to be part of this celebration. However, the exigencies and demands of state duty have both conspired to make it practically impossible to be here.
Earlier, I sent a personally-signed tribute to Kabiyesi Awujale, underscoring his transcendental and preeminent status as a royal father not just in our country, but also as one of the most adored around the world.
Kabiyesi Adetona deserves all the accolades we can accord him because he earned them.
In the last 64 years, Kabiyesi had served the people of Ijebuland with great wisdom and rare dedication. It is not surprising that his kingdom and people have continued to thrive.
While we rejoice with Oba Adetona today, it is important to state that what we are celebrating is much more than this 90th birthday anniversary.
In Oba Adetona, we are celebrating courage, dignity, honour and a life that is wholly committed to duty and service.
In time of adversity, Oba Adetona showed strength and kingly character. He stood his ground and confronted injustice and oppression during our just struggle for the restoration of democratic rule in the land between 1993 and 1999. If democracy is blossoming in our country today, it is because patriarchs like Oba Adetona stood firmly on the side of the people.
Motivated by higher and noble ideal to entrench democratic good governance in our country, Oba Adetona recognized the importance of expanding the frontier of knowledge with his endowment of a professorial chair at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State.
It is appropriate that as part of activities marking this birthday anniversary, we are also inaugurating the Post-Graduate School on Policy and Governance Studies funded by Kabiyesi.
Because Oba Adetona has honoured our country and humanity with his many years of meritorious service, I therefore, on this special occasion of his 90th birthday ceremony, confer on him the second highest National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
To ensure that the knowledge production and intellectual output of the Post-Graduate school benefit the entire country, the 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. This will be a fitting compliment to Kabiyesi’s educational legacy.
I wish Kabiyesi Awujale more years of service to the people of Ijebuland and robust health on the throne.
Many happy returns Kabiyesi.
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