The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims suggesting that Governor Dapo Abiodun was absent or showed indifference during the final burial rites of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing such narratives as malicious, false, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the state government clarified that Governor Abiodun was fully involved in the planning and execution of the monarch’s final rites, despite being saddled with a pressing national assignment.
“It is distasteful and primitive that some unscrupulous political scavengers are accusing Governor Dapo Abiodun of negligence for arriving late to the burial of a monarch he held in the highest esteem,” Akinmade said.
He explained that the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, was directed by President Bola Tinubu to proceed to London as part of the federal delegation following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which occurred the same day.
“Despite the weight of his national assignment and being in transit from the BRICS event in Brazil, the Governor made necessary arrangements for a smooth burial ceremony for the late monarch,” he added.
According to him, Governor Abiodun remained in constant communication with key stakeholders and dignitaries attending the burial and, upon his arrival, publicly apologized to the gathering and offered a clear explanation for the delay.
“This is not a man who would take tradition or royalty lightly. His commitment to the Awujale, the Ijebu people, and Ogun State as a whole is unwavering,” the statement read.
Akinmade dismissed the criticisms as part of a “cheap propaganda campaign” driven by political opponents and detractors, insisting that such antics would not derail the Governor’s focus.
“We are not surprised by this latest attempt to stir unnecessary controversy. It is a reflection of the desperation of those who find relevance only in pulling others down,” he concluded.
The late Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, was buried on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his private residence in Ijebu-Ode amidst tributes from within and outside Nigeria.
