The council of Otunbas in Ijebuland has stated that no law in Ogun State disqualifies holders of the Otunba title from ascending the Awujale stool. The council described recent claims suggesting otherwise as inaccurate and unsupported by history or statute.
In a formal response to assertions that Otunba title holders are barred from becoming the Awujale of Ijebuland, the council maintained that precedent clearly contradicts such views. According to the Otunbas, individuals who previously held the Otunba title have, at different periods, emerged as Awujale, reinforcing the position that the title does not constitute a legal or traditional impediment.
The council conveyed its position in a letter addressed to the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council. The correspondence emphasised that neither customary law nor existing state legislation contains provisions excluding Otunba title holders from consideration for the throne.
The letter was jointly signed by B. Alebiosu, chairman of the council of Otunbas; Akin Osiyemi, second vice chairman; and Ayodele Osibogun, secretary. In dismissing the claim, the council urged that discussions surrounding the Awujale succession be guided by established tradition, historical record, and legal clarity rather than conjecture.
The statement adds a formal voice to ongoing conversations around succession in Ijebuland, underscoring the Otunbas’ insistence that eligibility for the Awujale stool should be determined by verified custom and law, not misinterpretation or selective readings of tradition.
