The Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo, has appealed to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently intervene in the delay surrounding the selection of a new Awujale, stressing the need for the monarch to be in place before the forthcoming Eid al-Adha.
- +VIDEO: Give us new Awujale before Eid-el-Kabir, Ijebu Chief Imam begs Abiodun
Ayanbadejo’s appeal, as contained in a video sighted by our Correspondent, is coming barely 12 hours after the Chairman of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi, also appealed to Gov Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to complete the Awujale’s selection process, which was halted by the state government in January.
Ayanbadejo’s appeal, as contained in a video sighted by our Correspondent, is coming barely 12 hours after the Chairman of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi, also appealed to Gov Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to complete the Awujale’s selection process, which was halted by the state government in January.
The Chief Imam spoke on Sunday during a send-off ceremony for the first contingent of the state Hajj pilgrims departing from Gateway International Airport, Iperu, to Saudi Arabia.
Begging the governor in the name of the Almighty Allah and the revered traditional rulers of Egbaland, Yewa and Remo, the cleric emphasised the importance of the Ileya festival to the people, noting that the absence of a monarch could disrupt long-standing traditions.
Ayanbadejo stated, “Your Excellency, I want to say that with this magnificent airport that you have built, which is now making it possible for the Hajj pilgrims to be airlifted from Ogun State to Saudi Arabia rather than going to Lagos with all the stress and sometimes flight delays and diversion, you have certainly written your name in gold and we shall always be ever grateful to you.
“However, Governor, I am using the names of all our royal fathers, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egba land, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land and the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa land to beg you that the Muslim festival, Ileya (Eid-del-Kabir) is just a few days away, yet the Ijebu land is yet to have the new Awujale.
“In Ijebu land, the Eid-el Kabir is about the most important festival that we celebrate, and this is the reason why just two weeks after we celebrate one festival, we would have started saving funds for next year.
“You were like a son to the immediate past Awujale, you were in London when Baba died, yet you came back to honour and give him a befitting burial according to Islamic injunction. We therefore urge you to continue to show that same love even after his demise by ensuring that a new Awujale is installed before Ileya.
“We beg you, Your Excellency, to ensure that we have a new Awujale before Eid-el Kabir, which is a few days away. We are not actually commanding you, sir, Your Excellency, we are just begging you to please heed our request and that of the people of Ijebu land at home and in diaspora,” he said.
The Chief Imam noted that the kingmakers had completed their assignment and pleaded for forgiveness if any party had offended the government in the process.
“In the name of God, I appeal to Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff and all commissioners to kindly intervene so that Ijebuland can have a new Awujale before the Ileya festival,” he said.
Describing his message as a plea rather than a demand, the cleric also called on sons and daughters of Ijebuland to join in appealing to the governor.
Highlighting the historical significance of the festival, he explained that Eid-el-Kabir prayers have been observed in Ijebu Ode since 1875, when the then Awujale, Oba Tunwase, provided land for Muslim worshippers and donated a ram for sacrifice.
“In 1875, our fathers visited Oba Tunwase, the then Awujale and a Christian, they requested from him a land that they could use as a prayer ground, and he gave them the land, and when it was time to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir of that year, he also provided them with the ram that was slaughtered for the festival.
“Since then, it has become a tradition for the reigning Awujale to provide the ram slaughtered at the Eid ground. If we do not have a monarch this year, who will provide the ram?” the Chief Imam asked.
The appeal re-echoes that of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which has also called on the state government to lift the suspension placed on the selection process.
The Ogun State Government had, in January, halted the process, citing petitions, reports from security agencies and other stakeholders.
The Awujale stool became vacant in 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona after 65 years on the throne.
A total of 95 aspirants, 94 princes and one princess, from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had been nominated before the process was suspended.
