Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II was born in Lagos on 13 November 1893. He grew up in a city already shaped by trade, missionary education, Islam, Christianity, and the layered authority of chiefs and colonial officials. He belonged to the Adele royal lineage and was a grandson of Oba Adele Ajosun, a nineteenth century ruler of Lagos, a connection that would later become central to his kingship.
His formal education began at Holy Trinity School in Ebute Ero and continued at CMS Grammar School, Lagos. These schools were among the most influential institutions in colonial Lagos, producing generations of clerks, professionals, and public servants who would later shape the city’s civic and political life.
After completing his education, Adeniji Adele entered colonial service as a land surveyor. The profession took him beyond Lagos and into other parts of Nigeria, placing him within the administrative structure of British rule at a time when land, boundaries, and record keeping were central to governance.
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Service years and experience in colonial administration
During the First World War, Adeniji Adele rendered service connected to British military operations in West Africa. After the war, he returned to civilian duties and continued his career within the colonial system. He later worked in the Treasury Department and by the late 1930s had risen to a senior clerical position.
These years shaped his outlook as a ruler. He was familiar with bureaucracy, procedure, and the expectations of public office long before he ascended the throne. This background distinguished him from purely ceremonial rulers and influenced how he approached leadership in a rapidly modernising Lagos.
Accession to the throne and the struggle over succession
Adeniji Adele became Oba of Lagos on 1 October 1949, following the death of Oba Falolu Dosunmu. His accession, however, did not bring immediate unity. Lagos kingship had long been marked by rivalry among royal houses, and his claim was challenged by opposing factions.
The dispute moved through the colonial courts and eventually reached the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. In 1957, the Privy Council ruled in favour of Adeniji Adele, confirming his right to the throne. The decision settled the most serious challenge to his reign and reinforced the legal standing of the Obaship during the final years of colonial rule.
The palace, civic life, and the Lagos Town Council
From Iga Idunganran, the historic palace of the Obas of Lagos, Adeniji Adele carried out his traditional duties. Yet Lagos in the mid twentieth century was not governed by palace authority alone. It was a bustling capital with councils, municipal responsibilities, and growing political pressure.
Records from the period identify him as President of the Lagos Town Council, a role that placed him at the centre of civic life. In this position, he represented Lagos in public affairs while balancing traditional authority with the demands of an expanding urban administration. His presence provided continuity in a city where politics and public debate were becoming increasingly intense.
The Queen’s visit and Lagos on the imperial stage
In January 1956, Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria. Lagos was a central stop on the royal tour, and Oba Adeniji Adele II played a prominent role in receiving the monarch. Newsreels and photographs from the visit show him alongside the Queen, introducing her to chiefs and dignitaries.
The visit placed Lagos in the international spotlight. It also symbolised the final phase of British imperial presence in Nigeria. Adeniji Adele’s role during the tour reflected his standing as the foremost traditional figure in the colony’s capital at a time when the future of British rule was already being negotiated.
Honours and recognition during the late colonial era
Adeniji Adele received high honours from the British Crown. In 1956 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1962 he was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. These honours reflected his prominence in public life and his position as Oba of Lagos during a period of transition.
Such recognition also illustrated the continued importance of traditional rulers within colonial and post colonial public culture, especially in cities where symbolic authority carried national significance.
Independence and service in the First Republic
Nigeria gained independence on 1 October 1960, with Lagos as the federal capital. The early years of the First Republic were marked by experimentation, negotiation, and the search for balance between tradition and modern governance.
During this period, Adeniji Adele served in the leadership of Nigeria’s Senate. Parliamentary records list him as Deputy President of the Senate from independence until his death in July 1964. His presence in the Senate placed the Oba of Lagos within the formal political structure of the new nation and highlighted the continued relevance of traditional authority in national affairs.
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Death, succession, and historical memory
Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II died on 12 July 1964. He was succeeded by Oba Adeyinka Oyekan. His reign is remembered not for its length but for its timing. He ruled Lagos at the point where colonial rule ended and independent Nigeria began.
His life reflected the complexity of Lagos itself, a city where heritage and modernity have always met, sometimes uneasily. As Oba, civic leader, and national figure, Adeniji Adele embodied that intersection.
Author’s Note
The story of Oba Sir Adeniji Adele II shows how leadership in Lagos has often required balance rather than dominance. He moved between palace tradition, civic responsibility, and national service, leaving behind a legacy defined by steadiness during one of the most consequential periods in Nigerian history.
References
Parliamentary Debates, Senate Debates, September 1964, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies archive.
The Royal Tour, The Queen in Nigeria, British Pathé newsreel record, 1956.
Royal Collection Trust, photographic record of Queen Elizabeth II with the Oba of Lagos, 1956.
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, decision on the Lagos Obaship succession, 1957.
Historical Dictionary of Nigeria, entry on Sir Adeniji Adele II.
Biographical reference summary on Sir Adeniji Adele II, standard encyclopaedic compilation.
