Sultan of Sokoto condolence visit to Ijebuland pays tribute to late Awujale Adetona, urging unity, prayers, and preservation of his legacy
The Sultan, in the South-West for the coronation of former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, was accompanied by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), and other prominent Muslim leaders.
Upon arrival, he was received by Prince Saud Adedire Adetona, heir to the royal family, before proceeding to the tomb of the late monarch, who passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91 — the same day as former President Muhammadu Buhari — to offer prayers for his repose in Al-Jannah Firdaus.
The Sultan was later hosted at a modest reception attended by eminent Ijebu leaders, including the Regent of Ijebuland, Olor’ogun Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku, Olori Omo-Oba Ijebu Dr. Kunle Hassan, two of the late monarch’s widows, Olori Agba Iyabode Adetona and Olori Modupe Adetona, and children of the late Awujale.
In his welcome address, Regent Kuku thanked the Sultan for honouring Ijebuland and the royal family despite his demanding schedule, calling the visit a testament to enduring solidarity and brotherhood.
The Sultan urged the people of Ijebuland to continue praying for the late Awujale and to uphold peace and unity during the selection of his successor.
“Let us continue to pray for him — during our five daily prayers and on Fridays — because that is what we owe our leaders after they are gone. They have played their part, and it is now left for us to build on the legacy they have left behind,” he said.
He also commended the royal family’s unity and urged the community to preserve the late Awujale’s legacy of peace and development. “Every development starts with the family, and this family has been exemplary.
We pray that Almighty Allah gives Ijebuland an Awujale who will surpass the works of our late brother, unite the entire community, and continue to foster peace across the South-West and Nigeria,” the Sultan added.
The condolence visit drew attendance from eminent personalities and community leaders, underscoring the late Awujale’s national stature and the enduring bond between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Ijebu Kingdom.