Protesters in Ogun State has said they will take legal action following the removal of indigenous religious leaders from the palace of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during his Muslim burial.
Videos circulating online captured soldiers escorting worshippers believed to be members of the Osugbo society from the palace grounds in Ijebu-Ode.
Ifasola Opeodu, also known as Oluwo Iperu and legal representative for the traditional religious leaders, said in a statement that the evictions breached Section 55 of the obas and chiefs law of Ogun State 2021.
The law stipulates that burial rites must follow lawful traditional practice and respect the rights of all stakeholders.
“Nothing has happened other than that they violated the law enacted by the Ogun State government on the issue of kings and nobles in 2021,” he said.
He confirmed that both civilians and soldiers were involved in the removal of the religious practitioners.
“All the Yoruba activists, including those from Ogun and Ijebu-Ode where this matter occurred, we will go to court to enforce the law, to confront all those who did what they did in that conflict. Because it is forbidden, it is against the law.
“What the law says is that our work system, our procedures and our culture must be the king, and what they listen to must be the king,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of performing traditional rites for the late monarch.
“They must make atonement for the body of the deceased before burying it. It’s forbidden, it’s forbidden, it’s a real epidemic, all sorts of things happen. Bad, bad things happen, that’s why we have to do it.”
Opeodu added that if the body of the late king was buried without proper traditional atonement, there would be spiritual consequences in the land.
“It is imperative that the deceased’s body be properly reburied or else there will be danger in the land of Ijebu,” he warned.
He argued that the law recognises traditional roles and excludes non-indigenous religious figures from partaking in specific rites.
“Other religious figures who are not practitioners are not allowed to attend the funeral because it is not in the Ogun State constitution.”
He said the appearance of Islamic clerics at the funeral was a violation of the state law.
“The imams who visited the body of the deceased were violating the law because the Ogun State law on royal matters does not allow Muslims to visit the body of a king, whether he is an Awujale or another king.”
The Awujale was buried according to Islamic rites on Monday, following his death on Sunday.
Oba Adetona, who reigned for over 60 years, had reportedly expressed a preference for Islamic burial rites.
The Ogun State Government confirmed that the burial followed the amended law allowing traditional rulers to choose between religious and customary burial, so long as the process excludes mutilation or other banned practices.
Opeodu concluded, “The only way out of this issue is to allow the workers to make the necessary repairs. And the government is willing to allow the law to work so that such things will not happen again in the future.”
