The Ogun State government has initiated the process to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025, at age 91, ending his 65-year reign as one of Nigeria’s longest-serving monarchs. Governor Dapo Abiodun, after meeting with the Awujale Chiefs-in-Council in Iperu on August 25, 2025, urged kingmakers to ensure a transparent and fair selection process, emphasizing adherence to Ijebu traditions and the Chiefs Law of 1957. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line among the four royal houses: Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa, Fidipote, and Gbelegbuwa, has begun its selection, with 17 princes, including Adewale Alausa and Ademola Aderibigbe, vying for the throne.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, led by Adedokun Ajidagba, kicked off the process with the traditional beating of Gbedu drums on July 17, 2025, signaling their intent to present a candidate. Prince Adeleke Adeyemi, the house’s secretary, dismissed a circulating list of candidates as false, urging the public to ignore social media distractions and affirming the family’s commitment to a unified, tradition-driven process. Governor Abiodun assured support for the chosen candidate, stressing a rancour-free process. The late Awujale had warned in 2019 against selecting a “moneybag” successor, advocating for a capable leader to uphold Ijebuland’s progress.
Controversy lingers from Oba Adetona’s burial, conducted under Islamic rites per his wishes and the Ogun State Chiefs Law of 2021, sparking objections from the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), which threatened legal action against the state and the monarch’s family for sidelining traditional rites. The selection process, now underway, is critical as Ijebuland seeks a successor to match Adetona’s legacy of cultural preservation and development, including elevating the Ojude Oba festival to global prominence.
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