The Ogun State Government has once more suspended the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebuland, marking the second time the exercise has been put on hold since the death of the late Oba Sikuru Adetona.
The Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area, Hon. Dare Alebiosun, directed the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the Awujale kingmakers to suspend the selection process.
The directive, conveyed in a letter dated January 20, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Oke Abiodun Adebanjo, followed petitions, security reports, and complaints alleging irregularities in the process.
According to the letter, the decision was taken after due consideration of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empowers the government to set aside an appointment if deemed necessary in the interest of peace, order, and good governance.
“In taking this decision, government has had due regard to the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empower it to set aside an appointment if the Executive Council is satisfied that it is in the interest of peace, order and good government to do so,” the letter stated.
Rationale for Suspension
The local government explained that, based on available reports, it acted proactively to forestall any breakdown of peace and to protect and preserve the sacred traditional institution of the Ijebu Kingdom.
Consequently, the kingmakers were directed to halt the selection process forthwith and await further instructions regarding the continuation of the exercise.
In a new twist, the Department of State Services (DSS), Ogun State Command, reportedly invited nominees for the stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland for screening, even as the state government suspended the process again.
The details of the DSS invitation could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report, but the development has added another layer of complexity to the succession process.
The throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland, one of the most revered traditional institutions in the South West, became vacant following the death of Oba Sikuru Adetona, who reigned for decades and was widely respected for his leadership and influence.
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