The Awujale Afobaje Council has publicly disowned a letter dated April 14, 2026, said to have been written by Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, to the Ogun State Governoron the filling of the Awujale stool.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, the council described the letter circulating in the public domain as unauthorized, misleading and unrepresentative of its position on the ongoing selection process for a new Awujale of Ijebuland.
The council took particular exception to Chief Adesanya’s alleged description of himself in the letter as “Alaiyeluwa,” saying the title is traditionally reserved exclusively for a reigning Oba. It argued that, as Olisa of Ijebu Ode and not a crowned monarch, the use of the appellation was inappropriate and misleading.
The council also rejected Chief Adesanya’s claim that he is Chairman of the Awujale Afobaje Council, insisting that the assertion is false and contradicted by the council’s own records and meeting minutes.
According to the council, the Chiefs Declaration of Western Nigeria, 1957, lists the recognised kingmakers, or Afobaje, of Ijebu Ode who are responsible for selecting an Awujale, but makes no provision for who should serve as chairman.
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It said that at the inaugural meeting of the council held at the Aafin Awujale on December 2, 2025, Chief Adesanya himself nominated Chief Dr. Sonny Kuku, the Olor’Ogun and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu, to serve as chairman, and that the nomination was unanimously adopted by all nine members present.
The council said it was therefore “dishonest,” “astonishing” and “shameful” for the Olisa to now present himself as chairman, maintaining that such a claim amounted to a distortion of facts.
It further stated that no meeting of the council had ever been held at either the residence or office of the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, contrary to what it said were suggestions contained in the disputed letter.
Providing a chronology of its activities, the council said it had convened only four meetings since inauguration. It said the inaugural meeting was held on December 2, 2025, at the Aafin Awujale, where Chief Kuku was nominated chairman. A second meeting followed on January 13, 2026, also at the Aafin Awujale, where representatives of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House met with the council to discuss criteria and procedures for selecting a new Awujale.
According to the statement, the ruling house formally submitted the names of its nominees at a third meeting on January 19, 2026, while deliberations began at a fourth meeting held at the Oriental Hotel on January 20, 2026.
However, the council said proceedings at that fourth meeting were halted after it received a letter from the Chairman of the Ijebu Ode Local Government notifying it that the process had been suspended. It said the council immediately complied and had not reconvened since then.
The council expressed surprise that Chief Adesanya allegedly arrived at a list of five names said to have been recommended for the Awujale stool, insisting that no such list was ever discussed, approved or authorised by the body.
It also maintained that there was no provision in the relevant enabling laws for the nominations allegedly contained in the letter, adding that the recommendations reflected only Chief Adesanya’s “personal views and imagination” and had no connection with the Awujale Afobaje Council.
The council said no correspondence had been received from the Office of the Governor of Ogun State requesting the submission of any list of candidates for the stool. It added that the state government, as a law-abiding institution, normally communicates through the appropriate statutory channels, particularly the office of the Chairman of the Ijebu Ode Local Government on matters relating to the process.
Warning that the disputed letter could cause confusion, misinformation and a breach of peace in Ijebu Ode, the council said all its undersigned members dissociated themselves completely from the purported selection exercise and the recommendations contained in the letter.
The body said it would bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities to protect the integrity of the selection process and prevent further unauthorized representations.
It appealed to sons and daughters of Ijebu Ode, as well as residents of the kingdom, to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while awaiting further directive from the Ogun State Government on the continuation of the process to fill the Awujale stool.
The statement was electronically signed by Chief Sunny Kuku, Chief Kunle Ogunade, Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal, Chief Lekan Osifeso, Chief Okenla, and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, who signed as Secretary of the Awujale Afobaje Council.
In its final appeal, the council urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to disregard the letter allegedly written by the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, describing its contents as false, irresponsible and not authorised by the Afobaje responsible for the selection of a new Awujale.
Crediblenewsng.com
