Awujale's shoes too big to fill — Showunmi mourns Oba Adetona

The Late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona 

Otunba Segun Showunmi has described the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna, as a towering monarch whose legacy will be difficult to match.

“Your shoes are very big, only the gods can help fill this mighty shoe you left behind,” Showunmi said in a heartfelt tribute following the monarch’s passing.

Mourning the revered traditional ruler, he wrote, “Ajankoro dugbe dugbe! Ogbagba, Agbaotewole, Omo anikinlaya saogun, jigbini bi ata ileke, Sikiru Adetona the greatest of great Awujales. Oh death, where is thy sting?”

Showunmi praised the late monarch’s lifelong devotion to the Ijebu people and his commitment to their development and wellbeing.

“You lived for Ijebuland, you lived for the sons and daughters of the Ijebu kingdom. You demonstrated with your dedication to the affairs of your people,” he said.

He lauded Oba Adetona’s refinement, noting that the monarch “carried himself with the candour and dignity befitting of a refined Yoruba traditional ruler” and “made us all proud.”

The tribute highlighted the Awujale’s contributions to culture, education, and religion, particularly his elevation of the world-famous Ojude Oba festival.

“Imagine the world-acclaimed festival known as the Ojude Oba Ijebu ceremony, a durbar with Oriental Arabic origin... We embraced it and made it our own with our unique owambe flavour that you elevated to a global event,” he said.

Showunmi said the monarch’s passing marked the fall of a great iroko, noting, “Your duty is done on this royal throne, in this sphere. Now you join the ancestors, your ancestors, our forebears. I reckon they will be proud of you for leaving the throne better than you found it.”

He ended his tribute with prayers and traditional praise poetry:

“Baba Adetoun sun re. May Almighty Allah accept your soul and forgive your sins.

“Omo arojo joye, omo alagemo ogun woyowoyo...

“My condolences to the Fidipote Royal Family of Ijebu Ode.”