Eight months after the suspension of the selection process for a new Awujale of Ijebuland, religious and community leaders in Ijebu-Ode have again expressed frustration with the lingering delay, urging the Ogun State government to lift the embargo and allow the procedure to resume.

This comes as the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Chief Olu Okuboyejo; the Grand Chief Imam of Ijebu land, Sheikh Miftaudeen Gbadegesin Ayanbadejo; and the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ijebu, Rt. Rev. Dr Peter Rotimi Oludipe, joined their voices in calling for the resumption of the Awujale selection process, which was suspended in January 2026.

The leaders gave their remarks in interviews with journalists at the commissioning of the last phase of the 52-borehole water project donated by an Ijebu prince and philanthropist, Omooba Abimbola John Onabanjo, and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode.

“I am worried that it has taken far too long”, Chief Okuboyejo said, as he urged the state government to expedite the process of lifting the suspension and allow the kingmakers resume their responsibilities in selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Sheikh Miftaudeen Ayanbadejo, who said the emergence of the next Awujale was ultimately in the hands of Allah, however, urged the state government to listen to the demands of the people.

He said, “My advice to the government is that they should follow the voice of our people. Because by the opinion of the people, they are behind the kingmakers. These are men of integrity. All of them—Awujale chose them because they are kingmakers and persons with pedigree. Whatever they say in Ijebuland, nobody can go against them.”

Sheikh Ayanbadejo urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to ensure that the new monarch emerges during his tenure, saying the governor still had the time to complete the process.

“We are still imploring our governor. The time is still there. We want our governor to be the governor that will sign the certificate. We want the governor to be the governor that will present the staff of office. This is his chance,” he said.

On his part, Bishop Rotimi Oludipe urged Governor Abiodun to lift the suspension of the Awujale selection process “at the earliest possible time”, saying that the kingmakers are people of integrity who should be allowed to perform their traditional duties.

He said, “All of us are aware that the delay is caused by the state government. It is the governor who has put a kind of stop to the arrangement of those who are supposed to be in charge of selecting the Awujale.

“So, we are looking forward to the governor lifting that ban very soon, so that the process can come to a conclusion that will be acceptable to all.

“We are trusting that those who are supposed to select the King -the Afobajes- they are people of integrity. We trust that they would do the best for Ijebuland, and therefore our own appeal to the governor is that this ban should be lifted… and let’s allow the process to run”.

Bishop Oludipe said religious leaders were also concerned about the delay in the Awujale selection process, noting that the traditional leadership vacuum has gone on for too long.

The bishop acknowledged that the state government might have reasons for placing an embargo on the selection process. Still, he called for the process to be concluded in accordance with the wishes of the Ijebu people.

He said, “All of us are concerned because we are part of the community. Therefore, it is our joy that the entire process should come to a reasonable conclusion. We don’t want any delay. There should not really be a vacuum, particularly when you think of Ijebuland.

“Ijebu is so popular among several communities within the country, Nigeria. So many people are interested. So many people are asking us, ‘What is happening? Why is the Awujale not being installed?’

“We know that there could be concerns by the state government which made them to put the embargo. But we are believing that the process should be allowed to come to a conclusion, and that would be in the best interest of the entire community. You can see that; that’s the aspiration and the desire of several Ijebus all over the country.”