Awujale stool: Ogun, LG dismiss reports of chiefs’ suspension

The Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Ijebu Ode Local Government have dismissed as false and misleading reports alleging the suspension of three prominent Ijebu traditional chiefs from the Council of Chiefs.

The denial was contained in a joint statement issued by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, and the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government,  Dare Alebiosu, on Friday.

The report had claimed that the Kakanfo of Ijebu land, Chief Abimbola Okenla; the Lapoekun of Ijebu land, Chief Tunde Odulaja; and the Madasa of Ijebu land, Chief Lekan Oshifeso, were suspended from the Council of Chiefs.

However, the authorities said no such action had been taken or approved by any recognised traditional institution or by the state government.

“The Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in conjunction with the Ijebu Ode Local Government, has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating on social media alleging the suspension of the Kakanfo of Ijebu land, Chief Abimbola Okenla, the Lapoekun of Ijebu land, Chief Tunde Odulaja, and the Madasa of Ijebu land, Chief Lekan Oshifeso, from the Council of Chiefs,” the statement read.

It described the report as “the handiwork of mischief makers bent on causing confusion and disharmony within Ijebu land,” stressing that chieftaincy matters are regulated by established laws, customs and due process.

“Chieftaincy matters are governed by established laws, customs, and due process, none of which has been initiated in respect of the named chiefs,” the statement added, urging members of the public to disregard the report and rely only on official government channels for accurate information.

The clarification comes amid heightened attention surrounding the ongoing process to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.

Under the traditional rotational arrangement, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is expected to produce candidates for consideration by the kingmakers.

However, the process has been marked by delays, controversies and repeated interventions by the state government.

As part of interim arrangements, the state government had earlier constituted an administrative body to manage traditional and administrative responsibilities pending the installation of a new Awujale.

The decision was announced in a statement signed by Hamzat.

The administrative body is chaired by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Chief Folorunso Kuku, and includes Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso (Madasa) as secretary, alongside several Ilamurens, Pampas and other traditional title holders, including some of the chiefs named in the false suspension report.

The succession process has faced multiple disruptions.

In December 2025, the state government halted an initial nomination exercise, citing procedural errors.

A fresh nomination process which started with a meeting held on January 12, 2026 in Ijebu-Ode, was again suspended on January 20, 2026, following petitions.

On Friday, members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House staged a protest, alleging attempts to impose a candidate.

Against this backdrop, the state government and the Ijebu Ode Local Government urged calm, warning against the spread of unverified information capable of inflaming tensions in Ijebuland.

Culled from punch