The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has expressed outrage over the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, accusing the Ogun State Government and the monarch’s family of disregarding established traditional rites.
The group has announced plans to initiate legal action against both parties for what it termed a violation of the state’s chieftaincy laws.
Oba Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was laid to rest under Islamic rites. The ICIR, however, insists this decision runs contrary to Yoruba customs and contravenes legal provisions guiding the burial of traditional rulers in Ogun State.
At a press briefing on Saturday, ICIR President Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, alongside legal counsel Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, condemned the burial arrangement. Fakayode referenced a judicial ruling mandating the adherence to indigenous rites, describing the choice of Islamic rites as a “legal and cultural misstep.”
Fakayode cited Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which he said was ignored. “The actions of the state and the family not only broke the law but also disrespected centuries of Yoruba heritage,” he declared. He praised the Osugbo Confraternity—tasked with performing traditional rites—for showing restraint despite being sidelined.
“This moment reminds us,” Fakayode added, “that the gentleness of a lion is not weakness, but a show of strength.” He accused the state of supporting the erosion of sacred customs and warned that failing to uphold tradition could unravel the societal values rooted in Yoruba history.
According to Fakayode, the burial arrangements went beyond personal preferences. “This is a broader attempt to diminish cultural identity. Obaship is not just a title; it embodies the soul of Yoruba civilization,” he said, urging Yoruba people to defend the sanctity of their traditions.
The ICIR also condemned what it described as the mistreatment of the Osugbo Confraternity by the late Oba’s family, government officials, and security personnel. Fakayode called the conduct “deeply offensive” and said it demonstrated institutional disregard for traditional structures.
Barrister Ifasola Opeodu reinforced the council’s legal stance, asserting that the actions taken during the burial undermined both democratic values and the rights of traditional faith practitioners. “This situation isn’t merely about rites—it strikes at the heart of religious freedom and lawful governance,” he said.
Opeodu accused Islamic religious leaders, particularly the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, of overstepping legal bounds.
“Their participation in the burial, in violation of existing laws, displays a pattern of disregard for due process,” he remarked. “The traditional institution functions under legal order, unlike what we witnessed.”
The ICIR affirmed its resolve to seek redress through the courts, stating that legal action was necessary to ensure respect for tradition and to prevent future infringements.
“What happened threatens both legal integrity and cultural identity. We must protect both,” the council concluded.
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