Author: Nouman Ali

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, describing his leadership as an inspiration to Nigerians as the revered monarch marks his 80th birthday and 35th coronation anniversary.

President Tinubu spoke on Sunday at the celebration of the dual milestones of Oba Adejugbe’s 80th birthday and the 35th anniversary of his coronation, in Ado-Ekiti.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the celebration, President Tinubu said the twin milestones were a moment of pride not only for Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State, but for the entire nation, which holds the monarch in deep respect for his wisdom, dignity, and service.

According to a statement issued by special adviser to the SGF on media and publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the President noted that the Ewi stool, one of the oldest and most respected traditional thrones in Yorubaland, embodies centuries of guardianship, order, and cultural continuity.

He added that Oba Adejugbe has upheld and elevated these values with ‘uncommon grace and distinction’ throughout his 35 years on the throne.

‘For more than three decades, Oba Adejugbe has embodied these sacred responsibilities with distinction. Under his reign, Ado-Ekiti has witnessed sociocultural renewal, strengthened communal harmony, and closer engagement with government institutions,’ the President said.

Tinubu lauded the monarch’s advocacy for education, youth empowerment, peace-building, and the preservation of Ekiti’s moral and cultural heritage, noting that these qualities had earned him admiration far beyond the state.

Describing the 80th birthday as ‘a remarkable milestone’ marked by memories of service and dignity, President Tinubu said it offered a moment to honour a royal father whose influence had strengthened national unity and enriched Nigeria’s cultural fabric.

‘His Imperial Majesty has not only preserved the prestige of the Ewi stool, he has elevated it, demonstrating the highest ideals of integrity, humility, courage, and patriotic commitment,’ he said.

Ahead of the grand finale of celebrations on November 23, 2025, the President, through the SGF, prayed for God to grant the monarch renewed strength and long life.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s deep respect for the Ewi’s contributions to peace, unity, and national development.

Senator Akume also extended congratulations to the royal family, the Ado-Ekiti Traditional Council, and the people of Ekiti, describing Oba Adejugbe as a monarch whose life ‘continues to illuminate the path of justice, wisdom, and communal progress.’

‘We celebrate not just the age of 80, but a reign that has deepened the cultural dignity of Ekiti and captured the admiration of a grateful nation,’ he said.

When the stage play, Kashimawo, was staged at the popular Shaw Theatre, in London last October, Emmanuel Adejumo one of the stage directors of the play was at his best. Kashimawo is a play on the life and times of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, one man who combined business, philanthropy and politics to win the hearts of the people. The play, written by Ojo Bakare, a scholar who is grounded in stage theatre, has been staged in different locations within and outside Nigeria. The London outing in October was to further demonstrate to the world how important and acceptable the play has become not only to Nigerians at home, but to those in the Diaspora. Produced by Joseph Edgar, Adejuwo’s role on the stage presentation was apt due to his own versatility in affairs of dance, choreography and songs. In all situations, Adejumo, son of the late theatre guru and legendary comedian, Moses Adejumo (Babasala) has shown the world that he is up to the task.

As the acting head of dance department with the National Troupe of Nigeria, Adejumo has been up and doing in ensuring that stage plays, dance-dramas and all, put together by the Troupe keep coming out as the best. So the outing at Shaw Theatre in London further proved him right. In an interview about the show he said, ‘It was a good show. Nigerians from all over England showed up for the stage play. You could see how much they loved MKO Abiola. The play itself went deeper into the life of one man who was not just a pillar of sports in Africa but who also was a lover of humanity. He was a charitable person who died because of his love for the masses, and for what he believed in’.

Shaw Theatre is one of the greatest theatre stages in London. For the show to have taken place there, it shows how much the producers, Joseph Edgar and Tayo Elesin put in to make sure it attracted a reasonable audience. This was why Adejumo had to play a big role when he took charge of the dance and choreographic aspects of the show. He had to put in his best.

Adejumo is also a dancer himself, a comedian. He instructs dancers; he listens to the evocative sounds of the drums. He uses the voices of the drums to instruct his people. In London he was in charge of all that as he took the dancers, the actors and all, through all the stages to bring out the best in Kashimawo. He said ‘Yes, Biodun Abe played Kashimawo, the lead character. He was excellent as usual. He bestrode the stage like a colossus as he stammered in some instances to mimic Chief MKO Abiola. People were taken in by what he did that some even thought he was the man himself come back to life.

‘Yes, Abe was fully in character. His role brought back to life what Abiola stood for in the lives of the people. The audience roared, cheered, clapped and praised him on and on. Beyond that, Adejumo insisted that it is good to do more plays on some personalities that have helped the society grow in all areas of social, political and economic lives. People need to support such projects. That is why we admire and encourage Duke of Somolu, Joseph Edgar who has taken it upon himself to sponsor and produce such plays for the sake of posterity’.

Epic plays do not happen always. But when they happen, they register in the minds of the people. People learn one or two things from the exploits of epic personalities. Such has happened in the plays in this caliber that Kashimawo has truly become a reference point. People relate to it as one of the plays that strikes whenever it is staged. For Adejumo therefore, it will be more interesting as time goes on when more personalities are made into plays.

‘Shaw Theatre opened my eyes to a lot of things about theatre. Props, costumes, enough space to navigate on stage matter a lot. But in all, stage plays can appeal to all manner of audiences irrespective of your class or location in life. But first of all, the play has to have meaningful message, good plot, excellent cast and crew, good directing, all that make theatre a way of life’.

The local chant in Yoruba also tripped the people to no end. Songs were delivered in Yoruba but the audience got the message and immediately fell in line. ‘In fact, it was good, a good show that had no equal’, Adejumo said as he demonstrated with his two hands.

Before Adejumo became the acting head of dance for the Troupe, he was for many years a stage dancer with the Troupe. He is also an actor and dance instructor and choreographer. He has been involved in many stage shows by the Troupe within and outside Nigeria.