The Keregbetu family of Ijebu-Ode has officially reached out to President Bola Tinubu, seeking his intervention in the ongoing deadlock surrounding the selection of a new Awujale of Ijebuland. The family is raising alarms over the prolonged suspension of the process, which they say has left a vacuum in one of Nigeria’s most prestigious traditional institutions.
The Ogun State government halted the selection proceedings following various petitions from security agencies and other interested parties. The throne became vacant in July 2025 after the passing of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for an extraordinary 65 years. Since his transition at age 91, the race to succeed him has seen 95 aspirants—comprising 94 princes and one princess—emerge from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
In a statement signed by the head of the Keregbetu family, Adegboyega Olowu, the family urged the President to advise Governor Dapo Abiodun to lift the suspension immediately. Olowu noted that the current delay is creating unnecessary anxiety across the kingdom and stalling the installation of a successor. The family emphasized that the Awujale stool is more than just a title; it is a pillar of peace and social stability that stretches far beyond the borders of Ogun State.
One major point of concern raised by the family is the behavior of a particular aspirant. They alleged that since the government paused the process, this individual has started parading himself as the “Awujale-elect” without completing the required traditional rites. The Keregbetu family described this move as illegal and a potential threat to the peace of the ancient kingdom, warning that such actions could lead to a breakdown of law and order if left unchecked.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted during a meeting on February 22, 2026, where over 500 members of the Keregbetu family and the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House gathered to issue this third formal appeal to the Presidency.The stakeholders are particularly worried about the timing, as the major Ileya (Eid-el-Kabir) celebrations and the world-famous Ojude Oba Festival are fast approaching.
The family warned that if a new monarch is not installed before these festivities, the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival a massive cultural event that draws tourists and Nigerians in the Diaspora from all over the globe could be put at risk. They are now pleading for a transparent and fair conclusion to the selection process, asking that the kingmakers be allowed to perform their constitutional duties without further state interference.
