The Ijebu Congress, a prominent association of Ijebu indigenes at home and abroad, has publicly commended the Ogun State Government for pausing the ongoing process to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, Prince Bunmi Mebude, the group described the government’s decision as “timely, responsible, and firmly rooted in the interest of peace, law, and the preservation of the integrity of the revered Awujale stool.”
The Congress emphasised that the Awujale throne is a vital symbol of Ijebu identity and heritage, whose credibility must not be compromised by procedural irregularities or external influence.
The statement noted that the government’s action aligns with the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, which allows state intervention in traditional succession when peace and order are potentially threatened.
“The government’s reliance on the law reinforces public confidence in both traditional institutions and democratic governance,” the Congress affirmed.
It also acknowledged that petitions from stakeholders and security reports warranted serious attention, adding that addressing concerns now is crucial to ensuring the eventual selection is widely accepted and free from dispute.
According to the group, the pause serves as a safeguard against inducement and undue pressure, calling the move a “protective measure rather than interference in tradition.”
The Ijebu Congress urged all Ijebu sons and daughters, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, to remain calm, law-abiding, and supportive of due process while awaiting further directives from the authorities.
The Awujale stool became vacant following the passing of the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, and the selection process has been closely watched across Yorubaland and beyond.
