President Tinubu Bestows 2nd  Highest National Honour On Oba Sikiru Adetona…He’s Nigeria’s Longest- Reigning Monarch

President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced the decision to bestow Nigeria’s second highest national honour ,  the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the  Awujale  of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona in recognition of his immeasurable and invaluable contribution to national development.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that President Tinubu announced this during the event held to mark the 90th birthday of the paramount ruler at the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state.

‘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)’  he said

The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also announced that the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos has been directed to take over the management of  the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance which the royal father bequeathed to the university.

Tinubu described Awujale as an extraordinary royal father and a hero of Nigeria’s democracy who is adored all over the country for his sincerity of purpose and courage in the face of any adversity threatening national development.

Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna , who was born on May  10 ,1934, is the country’s longest-reigning monarch. He became the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode on April 2, 1960, and he has interacted with all the presidents that Nigeria has produced since gaining independence on October 1, 1960.

The event held at the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state on Friday  also featured the presentation of a book ‘Reinventing Governance in Nigeria: The Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Model’ as well as the Oba Sikiru Annual Professorial Chair lecture which was delivered by Professor Akinsola Agagu.

His keynote speech topic was  ‘Changing Nigeria’s Governance Narratives’.

‘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 a clear vision and rare dedication. It is not surprising that his kingdom and people have continued to thrive.

While joining  the highly revered Oba Adetona today, to rejoice, it is important to say that what we are celebrating is much more than his 90th birthday. In Oba Adetona, we are celebrating courage, dignity, honour and a life that is only committed to duty and service.

In times of adversity, Oba Adetona showed kingly and firm character. He stood his ground and confronted oppression during our struggle for the restoration of democratic rule between 1992 and 1999.

If democracy is blossoming in our country today it is because patriarchs like Oba Adetona stood on the side of the people’ President Tinubu also added.

He  also disclosed that as a result of many years of meritorious service to the country and humanity, ‘the Federal Government has decided to bestow the second highest national honour of Grand Commander of Order of Nigeria, on Oba Adetona as a reward for his selfless service to the fatherland’-

The programme had in attendance former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife, Mrs Bola Obasanjo,  Governor Dapo Abiodun , Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state,  President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff , Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, former governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former governors of Ogun state; Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Daniel as well as Ibikunle Amosun.

In his welcome speech, the Vice -Chancellor of the University, Prof Ayodeji Agboola, described Oba Sikiru Adetona as a rare royal father and the greatest individual benefactor to the institution.

Prof Agboola explained that the monarch had in 2014 as part of activities and programmes held to commemorate his 80th birthday endowed a professorial chair in governance in the university and that this professorial chair which was inaugurated in 2016  is now worth over N1 billion.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the donation of the multi-billion naira school of governance with state-of-the-art facilities will forever remain an enduring legacy of Oba Adetona towards entrenchment of good governance not only in Nigeria but across the African continent-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you