Without Awujale, APC Might Never Have Existed – Tunde Bakare 

Following the passing of the revered Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, tributes have continued to pour in from across Nigeria. One of the most heartfelt came from Pastor Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, who described the late monarch as a “patriot, mentor, and elder statesman” whose death marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s socio-political and cultural landscape.

In a moving tribute titled “Tribute to a Patriot, Mentor, and Elder Statesman, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land,” Pastor Bakare expressed deep sorrow at the monarch’s death, which occurred on Sunday, July 13, 2025. The day, he noted, bears both personal and national significance, as it also marks the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

A Royal Legacy Intertwined with National Politics

Bakare’s eulogy went beyond expressions of grief; it was also a poignant acknowledgment of Oba Adetona’s profound influence on Nigeria’s political evolution. The respected pastor revealed that the late monarch played a pivotal, though largely unpublicized, role in the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—the political party that has dominated Nigeria’s national politics for over a decade.

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According to Bakare, following the 2011 general elections, he sought Oba Adetona’s help in bridging the divide between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by Muhammadu Buhari, and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), headed by Bola Tinubu. During a meeting in London, he urged the monarch to initiate dialogue between the two political movements.

Upon returning to Nigeria, Oba Adetona heeded the call. “Kabiyesi convened a crucial meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and brokered the discussions that would eventually lead to the merger and creation of the APC,” Bakare recalled. Despite his deep involvement, the Awujale remained above partisanship. “He supported any initiative that promoted good governance, national unity, and peace,” Bakare noted.

This revelation adds a new dimension to the political history of Nigeria, recognizing the traditional monarch as a behind-the-scenes force for national consensus and democratic consolidation.

A Monarch of Justice, Wisdom, and Spiritual Awareness

Beyond politics, Pastor Bakare extolled the late Awujale’s wisdom, integrity, and fairness. He recounted a dramatic incident during a crusade in Ijebu Ode in the early 1990s, when an angry mob led by a traditional masquerade, Obirin Ojowu, disrupted the gathering. The masquerade was allegedly knocked down by what Bakare described as “the power of God.”

Supporters of the masquerade ran to the palace for redress, but the Awujale declined to intervene unjustly. Instead, he responded, “If the organisers did not push the masquerade down, but the power of God did, then these are the kind of people we need in Ijebu Ode.” For Bakare, this incident encapsulated the monarch’s commitment to truth, fairness, and spiritual tolerance.

The cleric also praised Oba Adetona’s open-mindedness and personal devotion. He revealed that the monarch, along with his granddaughter, was a regular viewer of The Moment of Truth, Bakare’s television broadcast. “Kabiyesi would often call to appreciate my unwavering stance on speaking truth to power,” he said, underlining a relationship that was both spiritual and personal.

The End of an Era

In reflecting on the monarch’s legacy, Bakare described Oba Adetona as a father figure whose passing signals the closure of a defining chapter in Nigeria’s traditional and political history. “It is with profound gratitude to God for a life well lived and yet with deep sadness at the loss of a father figure that I pay tribute to Kabiyesi Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona,” he stated.

He concluded by acknowledging that the Awujale’s impact extended far beyond the confines of Ijebuland. His influence reached into the national fabric, shaping the course of political events, encouraging spiritual openness, and fostering peace in a nation often plagued by division.

As Nigeria mourns the loss of a monarch whose life was rich with purpose, influence, and humility, Pastor Tunde Bakare’s tribute serves not only as a testament to a friendship but as a historical record of a man who quietly helped shape the destiny of a nation.