Adeniji Adele


Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II, KBE was the Oba of Lagos from October 1, 1949 to July 12, 1964.

Life

Adele was born in Lagos in 1893 to Buraimoh Adele and Moriamo Lalugbi. His grandfather was Oba Adele Ajosun. He studied at Holy Trinity Primary School, Ebutte-Ero and then at CMS Grammar School, Lagos. After his secondary education, he joined the colonial service as a trainee surveyor, after completing his training, he was posted to Kano as a surveyor. He served as a land surveyor with the Cameroon Expeditionary Force during World War I. Adele later worked with the treasury department and became a chief clerk in 1937.
He was awarded the titles of Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Knight of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England.

Politics and legal challenge

Oba Adele II was a supporter of the Nigerian Youth Movement and a member of Egbe Omo Oduduwa led by Obafemi Awolowo. His political affiliation was therefore in opposition to the ruling NCNC/NNDP founded by Herbert Macaulay and later led by Nnamdi Azikiwe. NNDP was opposed to Oba Adele's ascension, him not being descended from Dosunmu, and filed legal challenges to thwart his coronation. Oba Adele's right to the throne was finally sustained by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England in 1957.