Late Oba Sikiru Adetona, the former Awujale of Ijebu Ode who joined his ancestors on 13th July 2025 would have left a deeper vacuum in the office of Awujale of Ijebuland.
His demise was a rude shock to both indigenes of Ijebu-Ode particularly the Anikilaya royal family and other royal families in Ijebu-Ode.
By legal and traditional gazette administering processes of Obaship in Ijebu-Ode, four(4) royal families (ruling houses) are by right entitled to the stool of Awujale of Ijebuland. The royal families are Gbelegbuwa, Anikilaya Fusegbuwa and Fidipote are the four(4) recognized royal families in Ijebu-Ode.
The late Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON, CFR, D.Litt, JP who recently joined his ancestors hailed from the Anikilaya royal family would have created a very good race for other princes from the next ruling house FUSENGBUWA to justle for the paramount throne of Awujale of Ijebu-Ode.
As much as every prince from FUSENGBUWA royal family is entitled to the royal stool, the need for the most qualified prince to ascend the throne of Awujale needs to be carefully, transparently selected and ensured. Every required criterion needed for the right candidate to emerge and occupy the throne of Awujale must be thoroughly scrutinized and followed at ensuring the emergence of a credible, next Awujale of Ijebu-Ode with the utmost understanding that all sons and daughters of Ijebu-Ode home and abroad are stakeholders in the choice of who become their next Alaiyeluwa .
Although, several attempts by many princes from different royal families would have been made to justle for the vacant royal stool with some visible legitimate moves and of course, unclean attempts to compromise the standard, traditional procedures.
To have the traditional processes compromised for financial and other corruptible methods would undermine the the process of producing the most qualified and suitable candidate for the stool of Awujale. All concerned sons and daughters of Ijebu-Ode must therefore stand up to ensure that tradition is fully followed and guide against immoral perfidy.
The Awujale of Ijebu Ode is a paramount king of all Ijebu towns and villages. The next occupier of this exotic position must therefore be someone with proven integrity who is not only qualified to ascend the throne but known to have followed the laid down traditional processes without compromising ethical principles for corruption and frivolity.
The kingmakers and other traditional stakeholders saddled to superintend the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebu Ode must ensure justice, fairness and transparentcy in the selection process of the next Awujale of Ijebu Ode without compromising the establishing procedures. By so doing, standard would have been sustained and discipline entrenched. These king makers should know they owe the entire citizen of Ijebu integrity test to jointly and individuals showcase
Lastly and more importantly, the interregnum must not be left to linger for too long. Without further delay, the next qualified candidate from the next rulling6 house must be identified, properly selected, and present to l government for the next legal and official ratification.
These are the fundamentals that all the indigenes of Ijebu Ode must canvass and ensure the next Awujale emerge sooner than later. We must remember AWUJALE STOOL IS NOT FOR SAKE either to highest or lowest bidder. The respected King makers are men and woman of personal integrity and proud Ijebu Ode origin that will not rubbish their pride for any personal gain. Ijebus are watching.
Alhaji Korede Quadri, FCIB
Concerned Stakeholder
