The crisis rocking the process of picking a new Awujale of Ijebuland has widened as the Afobaje Council on Friday faulted the move of Olisa of Ijebu Ode, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, for allegedly sending a letter to the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and referring to himself as the head of the council.
It was gathered that the Olisa had in a correspondence to the state governor, signed the letter as the head of Ilamuren kingmakers.
In a statement jointly signed by six members of the council led by Chief Sunny Kuku, the Olor’Ogun and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu, Chief Kunle Ogunade, the Apebi of Ijebu; Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal, The Olootu Ifore; Chief Lekan Osifeso, the Olootu Olowa; Chief Okenla, the Kakanfo and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, the Lapoekun of Ijebu Ode and secretary, the council dismissed the notion, saying that it has not conferred any such rights on Adesanya.
The council said the Olisa has no authority to parade himself as their leader, while also faulting the Olisa for referring to himself as “Alaiyeluwa”, a title reserved for the crowned traditional rulers.
The official rebuttal statement reads in part, ‘’The attention of the Awujale Afobaje Council has been drawn to a letter dated 14th April, 2026, circulating in the public domain, purportedly authored by Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu Ode.
‘’In the said letter, Chief Adesanya referred to himself as “Alaiyeluwa,” an appellation traditionally and exclusively reserved for a reigning Oba. As the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, Chief Adesanya, is not a crowned monarch, the use of such a title is inappropriate misleading and even criminal under the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.
‘’More importantly, Chief Adesanya claimed in the same letter to be the Chairman of the Awujale Afobaje Council. This assertion is categorically false and contrary to the facts as contained in the Minutes of the Council’s meetings.
‘’It is also pertinent to state that the Secretary to the Ijebu-Ode Local Government was present as an observer in the meetings that were held by the Council as required under Section 16.1(d) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.’’
According to the council, ‘’The Chiefs Declaration of Western Nigeria, 1957, clearly stipulates the recognized Kingmakers (Afobaje) of Ijebu Ode who are vested with the responsibility of selecting an Awujale. These are: The Olisa of Ijebu Ode, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode, the Egbo of Ijebu Ode (Vacant), the Apebi of Ijebu Ode, the Olotufore of Ijebu Ode, the Olotu-Olowa of Ijebu Ode, the Ogbeni Odi of Ijebu Ode, the Ekeji Odi of Ijebu Ode (Vacant), the Oluwo of Ijebu Ode (Vacant), the Agbor of Ijebu Ode (Vacant) the Kakanfo of Ijebu Ode, the Lapoekun of Ijebu Ode and the Balogun of Ijebu Ode.’’
