Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has mourned the passing of one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional rulers, the Awujale of Ijebuland, HRM Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The late Oba Adetona joined his ancestors on Sunday at the age of 91, having reigned for six and a half decades.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said the late Oba Adetona’s legacies would continue to remain indelible.

Oyebanji said the late Awujale exuded royalty, class, colour, dignity, and honour in his lifetime, yet remained humble in his day-to-day royal duties to the benefit of his subjects.

According to him, the late Oba Adetona left legacies of service, dedication, sacrifice, humility, and the preservation of culture and tradition among his people, whom he ruled for 65 years.

He explained that the late Oba Adetona was a good example of how a leader can galvanise his people for overall community development to complement the government’s support.

Governor Oyebanji stated that the late Ijebu monarch, during his lifetime, provided wise counsel to those in authority on the importance of adding value to governance and serving humanity with compassion.

He also described the death of Oba Adetona as a double blow to the nation, coming barely hours after the news of the passing of the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The Ekiti governor prayed to God to grant Oba Adetona eternal rest and his family, Ijebu indigenes, the government, and the people of Ogun State the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“I convey the condolences of the Government and people of Ekiti State to the family of the late Awujale, the Government of Ogun State and the people of Ijebu over the passing of the highly revered Oba Adetona. May God grant Kabiyesi’s eternal rest and comfort his family.”, the governor added.