Religious leaders in Ijebuland have appealed to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to lift the embargo on the selection of a new Awujale of Ijebuland, saying the prolonged vacancy in the traditional stool is causing concern among residents.
The appeal was made 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, on Sunday during the inauguration of 52 borehole projects in Ijebu-Ode.
Oludipe urged Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to resume and conclude the process of selecting a successor to the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, noting that the absence of the monarch had become a matter of concern to the people.
“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 described the kingmakers as men of integrity who should be permitted to discharge their responsibilities, stressing that Ijebuland should not remain without an Awujale for an extended period.
“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 said the prolonged vacancy had attracted questions from people within and outside Ijebuland, adding that religious leaders were concerned because they were also members of the community.
“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?”
While acknowledging that the government might have reasons for halting the process, the bishop called for its conclusion in the interest of Ijebuland.
The Chief Imam, Ayanbadejo, expressed optimism that a new Awujale would eventually emerge, but also urged the governor to act on the matter while there was still time.
“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, that prayer will come to pass. It will come to fruition.”
Ayanbadejo said he had previously called on Muslim clerics to join him in appealing to the governor to facilitate the emergence of the next monarch.
He urged Abiodun to respect the wishes of the people and have confidence in the kingmakers, whom he described as men with integrity and the requisite pedigree to conduct the selection.
“My advice to the government is that they should follow the voice of our people. Because, in 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.”
The Chief Imam also appealed to Abiodun to ensure that the new Awujale was installed before the end of his tenure.
“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.
Bakare, who said his Idewon community was among those that benefited from the borehole project, also appealed to the government to remove the stoppage of the monarch’s selection process.
“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 project coordinator, Mrs Funmi Ayanwusi, said the 52 boreholes were provided to improve access to potable water in communities across Ijebu-Ode.
An 89-year-old retired civil servant and Chairman of the Ijebu-Ode Council of Olorituns, Alhaji Adebisi Alausa, described the intervention as an unprecedented project in his lifetime.
The Punch reported that the Funsengbuwa ruling house had approached the High Court in Ijebu-Ode against Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and five other defendants, including the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, seeking an order compelling the completion of the process for selecting the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Adetona at the age of 91, after spending 65 years on the throne.
The Ogun State Government halted the selection process in January 2026, citing petitions from security agencies and stakeholders.
This followed an earlier suspension in December 2025 over procedural concerns.
Before the government stopped the process, 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, had emerged from the ruling house nomination exercise conducted in Ijebu-Ode in December.
