The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was conspicuously absent at the Ojude Oba festival on Sunday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Platforms Africa reports that this will be the first time in many decades that the 91 year-old influential paramount ruler is missing the festival where he played the lead role as the major host.
He was installed as the king on 2 April 1960, which makes him one of the longest reigning monarchs in Nigeria. He is a member of the House of Anikinaiya.
The annual cultural celebration which is held three days after the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir provides the opportunity for the people of Ijebu land, who are usually dressed in various beautiful attires to pay homage to the Awujale and display the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people including horse riding among others.
However, the highly revered traditional ruler, who for decades usually sits in his majesty to receive the homage from the thousands of guests, tourists, and people from Ijebu during the annual festival, was absent from the festival held on Sunday.
He was represented by his wife, Olori Kemi Adetona.
Born in 1934, Oba Adetona celebrated his 91st birthday on May 10, 2025.
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Though, there has been no official statement detailing why the monarch was absent at the festival but an impeccable source told our correspondent that the 91-year-old monarch was not getting younger and that his absence was due to old age.
However, concerns are also said to be mounting over the health of the royal father.
A senior official from the state government who pleaded not to be quoted also confirmed that the absence of the royal father was due to old age and that nothing was wrong with the health of the paramount ruler.
However, efforts to get the reaction of the Coordinator of the 2025 Ojude Oba festival, Fassy Yusuf, proved abortive as calls made to his line were not connecting while the text sent to him has not been replied at the time of filing this report on Monday.
Platforms Africa
