The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has threatened to sue the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, over what it described as a breach of Yoruba traditional burial customs.
The council, during a press conference in Ibadan on Saturday, condemned the decision to bury the late monarch according to Islamic rites, alleging it violated both Yoruba cultural traditions and provisions of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law.
Oba Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was laid to rest shortly after his passing, following Islamic customs. However, the ICIR claims this burial was unlawful, pointing to Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section ii of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which they say mandates traditional rites for Yoruba monarchs.
Addressing journalists, ICIR President, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, described the burial arrangement as a “deliberate erosion of cultural identity” and called the actions of the late monarch’s family and the state government a threat to Yoruba heritage.
“The issue here goes beyond a burial. It is a direct challenge to the core of our customs and traditions,” Fakayode said. “The court had previously ruled, while the late kabiyesi was alive, that traditional rulers must be buried according to Yoruba customs, not religious practices foreign to our heritage.”
Also present at the press conference were the Council’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayanladun Fajemisin, and legal representative, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu.
Fakayode praised the restraint of the Osugbo Confraternity—the traditional custodians responsible for performing the final rites for the Awujale—who were allegedly blocked from carrying out their duties.
“We commend the Osugbo Confraternity for their maturity and patience in the face of provocation. That patience speaks to the wisdom and strength of our traditions,” he said.
ICIR further alleged that the state’s involvement in the burial contradicted existing laws and revealed a broader agenda to undermine Yoruba culture.
Barrister Opeodu added that the actions of the Ogun State Government, the late Oba’s family, and security agencies constitute a violation of the fundamental rights of traditionalists and pose a threat to democratic principles.
“In a constitutional democracy, religious pluralism must be respected. The traditional institution is a lawful entity governed by law,” Opeodu said. “What happened in Ijebu-Ode was not only illegal—it was a display of lawlessness and religious intolerance.”
He accused Islamic clerics, led by the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, of violating the law by leading the burial rites and warned that the traditionalist community would seek redress through the courts.
ICIR called on Yoruba sons and daughters, especially those in Ijebu-Ode, to defend their heritage, emphasizing that the institution of Obaship is not a religious role but a sacred traditional institution rooted in culture.
“To avoid a repeat of this affront to our tradition, we are prepared to pursue all legal avenues available,” Fakayode concluded.
As of the time of this report, neither the Ogun State Government nor the family of the late monarch has publicly responded to the ICIR’s allegations.
