Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Awujale: “The Lion Sleeps, but His Roar Shall Echo in Eternity”

The Group Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking KOF, has mourned the passing of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing his death as “the end of an era and the rise of a legend into immortality.”

In a deeply moving tribute, Aare Emmanuelking celebrated the life and reign of the revered monarch, whom he hailed as “a towering symbol of identity, unity, and pride” not only for the Ijebu people but for the entire Yoruba nation.

Oba Adetona, who passed on at the age of 91, reigned for an unprecedented 65 years, making him one of Nigeria’s longest-serving monarchs. But beyond the years, Aare Emmanuelking said, it was the quality and impact of his leadership that made his reign unforgettable.

“His Royal Majesty reigned not merely by the sceptre, but by the rare power of vision, intellect, and integrity,” he said. “He embodied royalty in its purest form—not as a ceremonial relic of the past, but as a dynamic force that shaped the present and prepared the future.”

Reflecting on the legacy of the late king, Aare Emmanuelking highlighted his role as a cultural guardian, a beacon of wisdom in times of national uncertainty, and a unifying bridge between generations.

“He was not just a king, but a colossus,” he said. “A living oracle whose words stirred minds and moved mountains.”

He praised the transformation of Ijebuland under Oba Adetona’s reign, noting that the kingdom flourished into a model of cultural dignity, economic vitality, and progressive governance. “To be Ijebu was to be proud. To serve Ijebu was to be honourable. To be under his reign was to witness greatness firsthand,” Aare Emmanuelking declared.

In his condolence message to the royal household and the people of Ijebuland, he urged them to take comfort in the honour of having been ruled by a monarch whose life and leadership will forever command reverence.

“Now, the lion sleeps, but his roar shall echo in eternity,” he said poignantly.

Aare Adetola Emmanuelking concluded with prayers for the peaceful repose of the king’s soul, and expressed hope that the Awujale’s remarkable legacy would continue to serve as a guiding light for future generations.

With the passing of HRM Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Yoruba history closes one of its most illustrious chapters. Yet, as Aare Emmanuelking affirms, “The light he lit will never go dim.”