The 70th birthday anniversary of this living legend and charismatic monarch provides one with a spectacular opportunity to construct and situate the person of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Born as Prince Sikiru Olukayode Adetona to the Anikinaiya 1 Ogbagba Royal Family of  Ijebu Ode on May 10, 1934, his father was Prince Rufai Adetona, whilst his mother was Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (nee Onashile). His mother hailed from Ijebu Igbo.

Young Prince Adetona, variously attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he was at Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu Ode from 1951 to 1956. Between 1957 and 1958 he took  up appointment with the then Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan. The charming prince resigned his appointment in 1958 to pursue further studies in Accountancy in the United Kingdom..

By a letter dated January 4, 1960 referenced CB. 4 1/333, the Permanent Secretary in the Western Region Ministry of Local Government conveyed to the Local Government Adviser in Ijebu Ode approval of the Western Region Governor in Council, the appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as the Awujale of Ijebuland with effect from that date (January 4, 1960). It became the lot of Ijebu notables like the late Ogeni-Oja, Chief (Dr.) Timothy Adeola Odutola, Bobasuwa, Chief Okunowo; and Asiwaju, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare to arrange for the home coming of the King-elect. On January 18, 1960, the Head of the Ijebu Ode Regency Council, the Ogbeni-Oja, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola formally presented the new traditional ruler to the whole world. This presentation, which was a novelty, signaled the commencement of the installation ceremonies of the king-elect. It was indeed, a new dawn in the annals of Ijebu people. The king-elect thereafter, proceeded to undergo the traditional seclusion at the Odo for three months.

Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who had earlier been nominated along with five others by the ODIS was unanimously selected by the king makers in conformity with Section 11 of the Chiefs Law  of 1957 applicable in Western Region. The then Governor signed the Instrument of Office approving Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as Awujale of Ijebuland. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960.

On Tuesday, April 5, 1960 newly crowned Oba Adetona, took his seat as a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs, after a formal introduction. So charming and captivating was Oba Adetona, that some Obas and Chiefs nominated him for the presidency of the House of Chiefs, albeit, an older Oba, late Sir Adesoji Aderemi, Ooni of Ife was subsequently elected the President. The thought here was that early as a monarch, the twenty-six  year old Awuj ale was a fit and proper king for the exalted position. No doubt, this consideration was an admission of the uniqueness of the Awuj ale of Ijebuland.

As if confirming the aphorism that a golden fish has no hiding place, the new  Awujale. was appointed by the Western Region Government as a Minister and Member of the Region's Executive Council. This position he occupied until the outbreak of the Western region's political crisis of 1962. With the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Western Region by the then Federal Government, the Administrator of the region found the services of the young Awujale indispensable. He was thus made a Commissioner during the Emergency period.

Since 1960, Oba Adetona has succeeded in raising the status and reckoning of his Ijebu people. He is known and perceived as one of the country's greatest monarchs dead or alive. A philosopher and social scientist, his fame and popularity extend beyond the shores of Nigeria. a creative and strategic ruler, Oba Adetona has been a significant factor in the nation's socio-political and economic development.

Perhaps one can embark on the construction and situation of Oba Adetona from his posturing as a change master, as a pragmatist, as an astute administrator, as a nationalist, as an incorruptible ruler, as a spiritual leader, and as a benevolent employer.

Oba Adetona as a nationalist
The Awujale is loyally and devotedly committed to the Nigerian State. He is indeed, a patriot. He has built bridges across Rivers Niger and Benue. He admonishes his people to be thoroughtbred wherever they find themselves. No wonder that the Ijebu people have not only comported themselves wherever they are but it is on record that no ethnic clash has been recorded in Ijebuland since he ascended the throne in 1960.

He was in the forefront of finding a national solution to the political logjam of 1993 to 1998. Oba Adetona consulted widely and hosted several fora. He was never a sell out. He brokered peace and concord in 1998 and 1999, and the major actors in the nation's three leading political parties will iesdily attest to this disclosure. But for Oba Adetona's commitment to the nation, his pronouncement otherwise would have swayed public opinion in favour of those agitating for the balkanisation of Nigeria. Perhaps, if Nigeria had been abundantly blessed with Nationalists, such as Oba Adetona, the country will be nearing Eldorado, if not already there. The submission here is that more traditional leaders of the type of Oba Adetona are needed.

0ba Adetona as an incorruptible ruler
Parts of the incorruptibility of Oba Adetona had earlier been given in this write-up. I write without equivocation that Oba. Adetona, cannot be corrupted by spoils of office. He is  just, transparent and equitable. Oba Adetona loathes indecency. He eschews corruption like the plague. He has been known to chastisise corrupt leaders and quite often publicly denounces them. Woe betides any Ijebu person who gets his hands soiled. Such an Ijebu person has no home to return to.. His long and enviable reign has not made Oba Adetona to decay nor decompose.

During the dark days of the late maximum ruler, he was amongst the few leaders that stood to be counted on the side of history. Time has in deed vindicated him. Oba Adetona, to paraphase Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819 to 1881), is one leader “whom the lust of office does not kill”. A leader “whom the spoils of office cannot buy”. A monarch who “possesses opinions and a will”. A king “who has honour  who will not lie”. A legend who has always “stood before a demagogue and damned his treacherous flatteries without winking”. He is a monarch among monarchs.

That every successive administration in Ogun State and Nigeria holds him in high estem is a manifestation of his incorruptibility and sagacity.

Oba Adetona as a Spiritual leader
 One additional way of looking at Oba  Adetona is from the perspective of a monarch who threads the part of God –  consciousness and heedfulness that is, taqwa which is the main criterion by which God values the deeds of a Muslim according to the Holy Quran, chapter 49, verse 13. Oba Adetona, personifies salih, which signifies behaviour that is righteous, just and dignified. He has not only been a monarch but also the spiritual leader of his people.

He has immeasurably succeeded in bringing about religious harmony among his people to the extent that religion does not dichotomise the Ijebu. The Christians live in harmony with Muslims in Ijebuland. The traditionalists are equally not isolated. The common saying in Ijebu is that “religion cannot divide us”. The Holy Quran confirms this, to wit: “to you, your religion, and to me, my religion”.

Albeit Oba Adetona, is the President of the United Muslim Council (an umbralla Islamic organisation for Muslims), he attends several Christian functions and he is quite versed in Christianity.

The Ijebu  Christian Community holds the New Year Prayer Session in the Awujale Palace. Many of his high-ranking Otunbas and Chiefs are Christians. The Palace is an admixture of Christians and Muslims.

Oba Adetona's purity and righteous deeds are accounting for his success in this world and will surely account for his securing al-janah (paradise) in the Hereafter. Given his spirituality, one is left in no doubt that Oba Adetona will reign for more decades as Allah guartntees longevity for leaders who fear Him and thread His path.

Oba Adetona as a benevolent employer
The reigning Awujale is one employer that has been showing goodwill, kindness and charity to his workers. For example, his Personal Driver who has been with him for over twenty years, is a proud landlord in Ijebu Ode, even though he is a non-Ijebu. His Personal Secretary, also a non-Ijebu enjoys a lot of comfort. The employee attrition rate in the Palace of Awujale is quite negligible a pointer to industrial harmony and the quintessential employer that Oba Adetona is.

As a mentor, Oba Adetona provides extra-ordinary experiences for his employees and highlight the key ideas and information that make their work memorable and meaningful. He gets his employees to make the most of a given situation. He reaches out to all his employees and Palace officials.

Conclusion
There is no better way to conclude than to say that as a monarch, Oba Adetona has personal warmth and integrity. He has positive attitude and high energy level. The Ijebu monarch has enormous sense of humour. He is resilient, creative, sagacious, objective and incorruptible.

Oba Adetona, has brought tremendous honour and dignity to the Traditional institution, especially to Ijebu Traditional Council. It is doubtful, if the records he is laying will ever be surpassed.

Unbelievably, Oba Adetona has decided to make his seventieth birthday anniversary a low-key event. This is not to say that his people will not spring surprises and “ambush” the monarch on his birthday.

I join others, to hail the living legend, the great and amiable monarch at seventy. May his reign continue to be peaceful and eventful.
Chief Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, is a Lagos-based legal practitioner and  Media Consultant.