Awujale Succession: Ogun Govt prioritises Peace, Transparency, Due Process

The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to peace, transparency, and due process in the ongoing efforts to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland, pledging that the revered traditional institution will be protected from controversy and undue pressure.

The assurance was given as part of deliberate steps by the state administration to preserve stability in Ijebu land and safeguard one of Ogun State’s most historic and respected traditional stools.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, speaking through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, made the position of government known during a closed-door stakeholders’ meeting held at the Oke-Mosan Government Secretariat, Abeokuta.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including officials of the Ijebu Ode Local Government, members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, and representatives of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council. The gathering underscored a collaborative approach between government authorities and traditional institutions in handling the sensitive succession process.

Addressing participants, Governor Abiodun emphasised the deep cultural, historical and symbolic importance of the Awujale stool, noting that its significance demands a careful, transparent and inclusive selection process.

“Although the Awujale throne is presently vacant, the Ogun State Government will not rush the emergence of a successor without carrying out thorough due diligence,” the governor stated. He appealed to all concerned parties and the general public to remain patient and refrain from taking premature steps outside official directives.

The governor further stressed that the process would be guided strictly by existing legal frameworks, including the Obas and Chiefs Laws of 2021, which clearly define the roles, powers and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in chieftaincy matters across the state.

In addition, the Chieftaincy Declaration applicable to the Awujale stool will serve as the authoritative document guiding the succession process, ensuring that tradition is respected while legality is upheld.

According to the state government, adherence to these established mechanisms is crucial to preventing disputes, maintaining public order, and guaranteeing that the eventual selection is lawful, credible and widely accepted by the Ijebu community.

By placing peace, transparency and inclusivity at the forefront, the Abiodun administration aims to reinforce public confidence in the chieftaincy process, protect the integrity of the Awujale institution, and demonstrate its broader commitment to the rule of law and harmonious governance.

Observers believe the approach adopted by the Ogun State Government could serve as a model for handling chieftaincy successions across the state, ensuring that the next Awujale of Ijebuland emerges with legitimacy, dignity and the collective support of the people.