Traditionalists decry Islamic burial of late Awujale, threaten legal action

By Adejayan Gbenga, Ibadan –

The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has condemned the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, according to Islamic rites, and has announced plans to sue the Ogun State Government and the monarch’s family for allegedly violating Yoruba burial customs and existing state laws.

Oba Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at age 91, was interred following Islamic traditions, prompting backlash from traditional worshippers. The ICIR argued that the burial disregarded a valid court ruling and contravened Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section (ii) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which mandates that traditional rulers be buried in accordance with native customs.

At a press briefing in Ibadan, ICIR President, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, said the burial process showed “flagrant disregard for Yoruba traditions and legal protocols.” He commended the Osugbo Confraternity—custodians of traditional rites—for maintaining peace despite being sidelined.

Fakayode warned that the incident reflected a broader threat to Yoruba heritage and accused unnamed actors of trying to weaken indigenous systems and cultural identity. He called on Yoruba people to defend the sanctity of the Obaship institution and resist efforts to erase ancestral values.

The ICIR president stressed that the burial was not simply a religious disagreement but a violation of cultural rights and state law. “This is not just about rites; it is about preserving who we are as a people,” he said.

ICIR’s legal counsel, Barrister Opeodu, also condemned the role of Islamic clerics and the state government, stating that their actions infringed on the rights of traditional religion adherents. He said their failure to follow legal and cultural frameworks around the monarch’s burial undermines Nigeria’s democracy and pluralism.

The council vowed to pursue justice through legal channels, aiming to prevent future occurrences and restore dignity to traditional rites.