Awujale Succession: Ogun Govt Says Suspension Aimed at Safeguarding Peace, Integrity of Traditional Stool
The Ogun State Government has said its decision to suspend the ongoing selection process for a new Awujale of Ijebuland was driven by the need to preserve peace, restore public confidence and protect the integrity of one of Yorubaland’s most revered traditional institutions.
The suspension, conveyed to the Awujale kingmakers and concerned ruling houses through the Ijebu Ode Local Government, followed a buildup of petitions, complaints and security concerns surrounding the conduct of the exercise.
According to the State Government, allegations of irregularities, undue influence and other sharp practices had begun to trail the selection process, raising fears that allowing it to continue unchecked could undermine its credibility and trigger tension within Ijebuland.
Government sources explained that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration had initially adopted a non-interventionist approach to allow due process, transparency and fairness to guide the emergence of a new monarch.
However, developments surrounding the process, including rising public disquiet, made it necessary for the State to intervene in the overall interest of stability.
The Government stressed that the suspension does not amount to a rejection of the authority of the kingmakers or any ruling house, but rather a temporary measure to review the process, address identified issues and issue fresh directives that will ensure a credible, inclusive and widely acceptable outcome.
It further disclosed that all allegations of bribery, influence-peddling and corruption linked to the exercise would be thoroughly investigated, noting that such a step is essential to preserving the sanctity of the Awujale stool and preventing a recurrence of similar controversies.
The Ogun State Government called on all stakeholders to remain calm and cooperate with authorities as efforts are made to reset the process, assuring that the eventual selection of a new Awujale would reflect fairness, cultural values and the collective interest of Ijebuland.
