Traditional religion adherents in Ogun State have expressed outrage over the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, saying the exclusion of Isese rites from the monarch’s final journey was a disrespect to Yoruba cultural heritage.
The Isese community, under the aegis of Isese Worshippers of Ogun State, voiced their concerns during a meeting held in Aneokuta to review the incident.
The session, chaired by Oba Dr. Ifarotimi Adifagbola Balogun, the Oba Isese of Ogun State, condemned the manner in which Islamic rites were exclusively observed at the burial, sidelining the traditional ceremonies historically linked with royal departures.
Oba Adifagbola attributed the development to what he called the “tolerance and peaceful disposition” of traditionalists who, in their bid to promote interfaith unity, have allowed their children to marry across religions.
He, however, warned that this tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that the burial method adopted was an affront to Yoruba tradition.
“We condoned the situation out of love for the society, not because we are powerless,” the traditionalists leader said.
“But it is time our children learn to take pride in and participate in the religious practices of their parents.
This is how our traditions can regain their place of honour.”
Also speaking, High Chief Barrister Ifasola Opeolu, the Oluwo of Iperu, described the development as “an aberration and a slap on the traditional institution.”
He commended the Ogun State Chiefs Law, which mandates that Obas be buried according to the customs of the traditional religion under which they ascended the throne.
“This is not just about Awujale; this is about protecting the sacred rites that validate the authority of Yoruba monarchs,” he said.
In response to the incident, the Isese community has set up a committee to engage with the Ogun State Government.
The committee will seek to review and enforce existing laws regarding the burial of Obas, to prevent what they described as the “erosion of cultural identity” and a repeat of what transpired in Ijebu-Ode.
The late Awujale, who reigned for over six decades, was laid to rest on Monday in a ceremony led by Muslim clerics, drawing the ire of traditionalists across the state.
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