Awujale succession: Family protests lineage exclusion

0
22

The succession process for the revered Awujale of Ijebuland stool has taken a dramatic turn as the Adeyemi ruling family of the Anikilaya dynasty has raised strong objections over what it described as a deliberate attempt to erase its name from the recognized royal lineage.

Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona

In a statement signed by Adedeji Ademola Adeyemi and made available to journalists in Ijebu Ode, the family accused certain individuals within the larger Anikilaya ruling house of distorting historical facts to sideline the Adeyemi branch from producing candidates for the vacant stool.

The development comes on the heels of the passage of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the 58th Awujale of Ijebuland, who joined his ancestors last month after more than six decades on the throne.


The Adeyemi family insists that it remains an integral part of the Anikilaya dynasty and has historically produced notable contenders for the Awujale throne.

According to Adedeji Adeyemi, Prince Ademola Aiyegbajeje Adeyemi was originally selected as successor after the demise of Oba Daniel Adesanya (Gbelegbuwa II) in 1959 but rejected the crown.

His brother, Prince Mubashiru Adedipupo Adeyemi, later championed his son, Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who eventually emerged as Awujale in 1960 following the blessings of the kingmakers.

“The Adeyemi Anikilaya line has always been a central pillar of the royal family,” Adeyemi noted. “To suggest otherwise is a distortion of history and a grave injustice to our lineage.”


The Adeyemi ruling house has accused unnamed family members of wrongly assigning seniority to other descendants while inserting unfamiliar names into the official record.

According to the family, figures such as Mabadeje, Adekoya Ofirigidi, and Adeire Adeewu were erroneously listed as children of Oba Anikilaya Saagun Figbajoye, who reigned in 1821.

The Adeyemis argue that historical records identify only three sons: Adeyemi Anikilaya (the eldest), Ogbagba, and Ademolu.

“Putting the record straight, our family remains the descendants of Adeyemi Anikilaya, the eldest son of Oba Anikilaya Saagun Figbajoye. Any attempt to rewrite history by sidelining us cannot stand,” the statement added.

The stool of the Awujale is one of the most respected traditional titles in Yorubaland, commanding influence not only in Ogun State but across Nigeria and the diaspora.

With the passing of Oba Adetona—widely celebrated as a reformist monarch—the succession battle has attracted heightened attention from stakeholders, including politicians, community leaders, and cultural historians.

If unresolved, the dispute could delay the kingmaking process and potentially spark legal or communal conflicts.

Analysts warn that the matter may also deepen divisions within Ijebuland at a time when unity is needed to preserve the late monarch’s legacy.



The Adeyemi family has appealed to both the Ogun State Government and the Ijebu Kingmakers to ensure fairness and transparency in the succession process.

“We implore the public and authorities to disregard the false narratives being pushed by a few misguided members of the family. History cannot be rewritten to suit personal ambitions,” Adeyemi emphasized.

The family further reaffirmed its commitment to peace but maintained that it would not tolerate deliberate erasure from the royal heritage of Ijebuland.



Disputes over royal succession are not new in Nigeria’s traditional institutions. Across Yorubaland, several royal families have contested historical interpretations and eligibility to thrones, often resulting in prolonged litigations.

Observers say the Adeyemi protest could follow a similar path unless reconciliatory efforts are made swiftly.

For the people of Ijebuland, the stool of Awujale remains a unifying symbol of culture and pride.

As the region awaits the formal process of selecting a new monarch, the unfolding family tussle underscores the delicate balance between tradition, history, and modern governance.


The exclusion of the Adeyemi ruling family from the Anikilaya dynasty’s lineage list has stirred a major controversy at a critical moment in Ijebu history.

With the throne of the Awujale vacant for the first time in over six decades, the outcome of this dispute will not only determine who wears the crown but also shape the future of Ijebuland’s traditional institution.

The Adeyemi family has vowed to continue defending its rightful place in history, urging transparency, fairness, and adherence to truth as the succession battle unfolds.



Leave a Reply