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, at a community empowerment programme.
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.
