Tinubu Credits Late Awujale for Electoral Success at Monarch’s Fidau Prayers
President Bola Tinubu has attributed his victory in the 2023 presidential election to the support and blessings of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, stating that the history of the Yoruba race would have been incomplete without his success.
Speaking on Sunday at the 8th-day Fidau prayers for Oba Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91, President Tinubu recounted how the revered monarch, a close friend of former President Muhammadu Buhari, encouraged him to contest the election and assured him of victory. The Awujale, who died hours after Buhari’s passing was announced, was one of Nigeria’s longest-serving monarchs, reigning for 64 years since ascending the throne on April 2, 1960.
Tinubu highlighted the deep bond between Oba Adetona and Buhari, which began in the 1980s, and praised the late monarch’s role in his political journey. “Our history would not have been completed carefully and richly if I had failed in the last election,” Tinubu said. “I was successful because of your support and the blessing of the late Awujale.”
The Fidau prayers, held in honor of the late traditional ruler, drew dignitaries and mourners who paid tribute to his enduring legacy.
