Governor Dapo Abiodun has cited the Obas and chiefs law of Ogun State 2021 in defence of the Islamic burial conducted for the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, stressing that the law guarantees monarchs the right to choose their preferred funeral rites.
Oba Adetona died on Sunday, July 13 and was buried the following day, Monday, July 14, at his Igbeba residence in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The monarch was laid to rest in a mausoleum, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Speaking at the funeral, Governor Abiodun said the law, enacted in 2021, was designed to eliminate disputes around the installation and burial of traditional rulers.
He said monarchs are entitled under the law to be buried in line with their personal religious beliefs, whether Islamic, Christian, or traditional, as long as the rites do not involve bodily harm or desecration.
However, the ceremony sparked backlash from traditional religious leaders and groups, who say the Islamic burial contravened aspects of the same law.
On Tuesday, July 17, protesters in Ogun State threatened legal action following the reported removal of indigenous worshippers from the palace grounds during Oba Adetona’s burial.
Viral videos on social media showed soldiers escorting members of the Osugbo society a traditional institution, away from the premises.
Ifasola Opeodu, also known as Oluwo Iperu and a legal representative for the traditional leaders, issued a statement condemning the action.
He said the eviction violated Section 55 of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021,
which outlines the proper burial procedure for monarchs and affirms the rights of all cultural 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,” Opeodu said.
“All the Yoruba activists, including those from Ogun and Ijebu-Ode where this matter occurred, will go to court to enforce the law.”
He added that both civilians and soldiers took part in removing the traditional practitioners, an action he described as unlawful and disrespectful to Yoruba customs.
Opeodu also warned of potential spiritual consequences if proper atonement rites were not performed before the burial.
“It is imperative that the deceased’s body be properly reburied or else there will be danger in the land of Ijebu,” he warned.
“They must make atonement for the body of the deceased before burying it. It’s forbidden [to skip it], it’s a real epidemic.”
He further argued that non-indigenous religious figures, including Muslim clerics, had no legal standing under Ogun’s chieftaincy law to conduct or be involved in the monarch’s funeral.
“The imams who visited the body of the deceased were violating the law,” he said.
“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.”
Despite the controversy, the state government maintains that the late Oba’s burial followed his personal wishes, as permitted under the law.
Governor Abiodun remarks suggest that the government stands by the legality of the funeral procedure.