Install new Awujale before Ileya – Chief Imam of Ijebuland appeals to Gov Abiodun
Ijebu Chief Imam Calls for Urgent Selection of New Awujale Before Ileya Festival
IJEBU-ODE, Ogun State — Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo, the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, has urged Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene in the protracted selection process of a new Awujale. He emphasized the importance of having a monarch in place ahead of the upcoming Ileya (Eid-el-Kabir) festival.
Ayanbadejo made the appeal on Sunday during a send-off ceremony for the first group of Hajj pilgrims departing from Gateway International Airport in Iperu to Saudi Arabia. He described the delay in selecting a new Awujale as critical to the cultural and religious life of Ijebuland.
“Our traditions are at stake, and the impact of not having a monarch could disrupt long-standing customs associated with the Ileya festival,” the Chief Imam stated. He invoked the support of both Allah and the traditional rulers of neighboring regions, reiterating the festival’s significance.
Recalling the late Awujale’s legacy, Ayanbadejo noted, “Your Excellency, you were like a son to the late Awujale,” referring to Abiodun’s participation in the monarch’s funeral prayers. He urged the governor to demonstrate his commitment to the community by ensuring a new Awujale is installed before the festival.
The Chief Imam revealed that kingmakers had completed their selection process. He appealed to various state officials, including the Deputy Governor and commissioners, to act swiftly. “In the name of God, I plead with you to intervene,” he said.
Describing his request as a plea rather than a demand, Ayanbadejo also called on the people of Ijebuland to join in urging the governor to expedite the process. He referenced the historical significance of the Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Ijebu Ode, noting that the celebration has been observed since 1875, when a Christian Awujale provided land for Muslim worshippers.
“If we do not have a monarch this year, who will provide the ram?” he asked, highlighting the role of the reigning Awujale in the festival traditions.
This appeal aligns with a recent request from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which called on Governor Abiodun to lift the suspension placed on the selection process for the next Awujale.
In January 2025, the Ogun State government halted the selection process after receiving multiple petitions and concerns from security agencies and stakeholders. Ganiyu Hamzat, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, communicated this suspension in a letter dated January 20, 2025.
This was the second time the government had paused the selection process to choose a successor to the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed away last year after 65 years on the throne.
The race to fill the vacant position has been marked by controversy, with the Fusengbuwa Ruling House having submitted a list of 94 princes and one princess as candidates. The ruling house initially tasked the kingmakers with selecting the new Awujale from this list before the government’s decision to halt proceedings.
On Sunday, Otunba Abdul Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi, chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, reiterated the need for the governor to allow the kingmakers to resume and finalize the selection of the 60th Awujale of Ijebuland without further delays.
