How Buhari’s 1983 Coup Preserved the Throne of Oba Sikiru Adetona

On November 23, 1981, Governor Victor Olabisi Onabanjo of Ogun State signed a formal order suspending Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, from office “until further notice.” What began as a suspension soon escalated into an official move to depose the monarch, with the removal slated to take effect on January 2, 1984.

But history intervened. The military coup of December 31, 1983, which swept General Muhammadu Buhari to power and toppled President Shehu Shagari’s civilian administration, abruptly halted the plan. In the process, it inadvertently secured Oba Adetona’s reign—one that would endure for another four decades.

A Rift Between Two Ijebu Sons

By the early 1980s, the relationship between Oba Adetona and Governor Onabanjo—both sons of Ijebu—had soured. Their bond had once been close: the Awujale had assisted Onabanjo during a period of illness and even housed him during his studies in London. Yet, as political ambitions grew, camaraderie gave way to rivalry, setting the stage for a constitutional crisis.

In August 1981, Oba Adetona notified the governor by letter of his planned medical trip to London, providing his overseas address and telephone number. The letter was a courtesy, not a request. But Onabanjo’s reply demanded further details, including medical justification—implying the trip required gubernatorial approval.

The Awujale bristled at the suggestion. In a firm response, he reminded the governor that he was not seeking permission, merely extending a courtesy. He then departed for London, changing his phone number to avoid further contact.

The Attempted Deposition

On November 23, 1981, Governor Onabanjo issued an unprecedented proclamation suspending the monarch. He set up a Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Solomon O. Sogbetun, to investigate the Awujale’s alleged “insubordination” and administrative lapses.

The outcome was as the governor intended. By early 1982, the commission submitted a report recommending removal. The Ogun State Executive Council formally acted on it, declaring the Awujale deposed.

A Legal Battle Begins

Oba Adetona refused to accept the decision. Backed by a formidable legal team led by Chief F.R.A. Williams and supported by Chief Sina Odedina, he mounted a legal challenge, questioning the legality of the commission’s findings and the constitutionality of his removal.

Meanwhile, Onabanjo was re-elected and sworn in for a second term on October 1, 1983. With his renewed mandate, the governor appeared poised to see the deposition through. The Awujale’s fate seemed sealed.

The Coup That Changed Everything

Then came December 31, 1983. In a late-night broadcast, Brigadier Sani Abacha announced the overthrow of the Second Republic. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari assumed power as Head of State, while in Ogun State, Brigadier Oladipo Diya, another son of Ijebu, was appointed Military Governor.

The political landscape shifted overnight.

Reinstatement and Vindication

In 1984, Justice Kolawole of the Ogun State High Court delivered a landmark judgment. The court nullified the Sogbetun Commission’s findings, declared the deposition unlawful, and ordered Oba Adetona’s immediate reinstatement.

Under Brigadier Diya’s military administration, the judgment was not contested. It was quietly and promptly enforced. The Awujale returned to his throne, not in disgrace, but in triumph—vindicated, unbroken, and stronger than ever.

A Legacy Forged in Adversity

What began as a bitter political feud became a story of resilience and lawful resistance. The scars of the episode remained, but they were woven into a greater legacy: that of a monarch who refused to bow to injustice.

From that reinstatement in 1984, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona would reign for 41 more years, guiding Ijebuland with wisdom, courage, and an unshakable sense of duty until his passing on July 13, 2025. His tenure stands as one of the longest in Nigeria’s history—a testament not only to his longevity but to his unwavering strength of character.

In the end, a military coup that reshaped Nigeria also saved a throne—and preserved the reign of a king who became a symbol of endurance and dignity for generations to come.