End Delay in Awujale Succession – Clerics Tell Abiodun

Religious leaders in Ijebuland have appealed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to lift the embargo on the selection of a successor to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, saying the prolonged delay in filling the stool has become a source of concern to the people.

The call was made on Sunday by the Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ijebu, Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Rotimi Oludipe; the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo; and the head of Osugbo in Ijebu-Ode, Chief Bolanle Bakare, during the commissioning of 52 borehole projects and a community empowerment programme sponsored by an Ijebu royal prince and philanthropist, Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo, and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo.

Oludipe, who spoke with journalists at the event, urged Abiodun to allow the process to continue to its conclusion, describing the kingmakers as people of integrity who should be permitted to perform their traditional duties.

“All of us are aware that the delay is caused by the state government. It’s the governor that has put a kind of a stop to the arrangement of those who are supposed to be in charge of selecting the Awujale.

“So we are looking forward to the governor lifting that ban very soon, so that the process can come to a conclusion that will be acceptable to all,” the bishop said.

The bishop said the absence of an Awujale was undesirable for the community.

“Our own appeal to the governor is that this ban should be lifted at the earliest possible time, and let’s allow the process to run to conclusion, by the grace of God,” he added.

Oludipe noted that religious leaders were also concerned about the delay because they were part of the community and were constantly confronted with questions about the vacant traditional stool.

He said, “We don’t want any delay. There should not really be a vacuum, particularly when you think of Ijebuland.

“Ijebu is so popular among several communities within the country, Nigeria. So many people are interested. So many people are asking us, ‘What is happening? Why is the Awujale not being installed?’”

The bishop, however, acknowledged that the government might have reasons for placing an embargo on the selection process, but urged it to allow the process to reach a conclusion in the interest of Ijebuland.

According to him, the people of Ijebuland deserved to have a monarch installed through a process that was allowed to run its course.

Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Ayanbadejo, said he remained hopeful that the next Awujale would eventually emerge, describing the matter as one that would be resolved at the appropriate time.

He recalled that he had previously appealed to Muslim clerics to join him in urging the governor to facilitate the installation of the monarch.

According to him, while the emergence of the next Awujale was ultimately in the hands of Allah, that should not be an excuse for failing to take concrete steps to resolve the matter.

“Time belongs to Allah. When the time comes, it will happen. But that does not mean that something concrete should not be done on time. We all believe that one day, one day, that prayer will come to pass. It will come to fruition,” Ayanbadejo said.

The Chief Imam urged the governor to listen to the wishes of the people and trust the kingmakers, whom he described as men of integrity with the pedigree to handle the selection process.

He said, “My advice to the government is that they should follow the voice of our people. Because by the opinion of the people, they are behind the kingmakers. These are men of integrity. All of them—Awujale chose them because they are kingmakers and persons with pedigree. Whatever they say in Ijebuland, nobody can go against them.”

Ayanbadejo urged Abiodun to ensure that the new monarch emerged during his tenure, saying the governor still had the opportunity to complete the process.

“We are still imploring our governor. The time is still there. We want our governor to be the governor that will sign the certificate. We want the governor to be the governor that will present the staff of office. This is his chance,” he said.

The Chief Imam also expressed gratitude to the couple, saying the provision of 52 boreholes was a major intervention for the people.

“Let’s first thank Allah for the work they have done so far. This is big for somebody to just be able to provide 52 boreholes for the use of the people of Ijebuland. It is first of its kind and we are happy for this kind gesture that would definitely have great impact on the wellbeing of the residents of Ijebu-Ode,” Ayanbadejo said.

The head of the Osugbo in Ijebu-Ode, Bakare, said his community was among the beneficiaries of the project and remained eternally grateful to the couple for helping to address the challenge of lack of potable water in the community. He prayed that Almighty God would also grant the couple their heart’s desires.

He also appealed to the state government to remove what he described as the stoppage of the Awujale installation process.

Bakare said, “We are all waiting for the installation of the new Awujale. We are therefore using this medium to beg the state government to allow the process of selecting the new Awujale to be concluded on time without further delays.

“We all want a new Awujale. We are sincerely hoping and praying that the government will lift the embargo and allow the new Awujale to emerge on time. We have waited enough.”

The ruling house had dragged Governor Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and five others, including the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, before the High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking orders compelling the completion of the process for the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at the age of 91, after 65 years on the throne.(Daily trust)