The Adeyemi ruling house of the Anikilaya dynasty has raised objections to its exclusion from the list of recognized royal families eligible to produce candidates for the Awujale of Ijebuland throne in Ogun State.
This development follows the recent passing of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the late monarch from the Anikilaya ruling house who reigned for 63 years.
In a statement issued on Sunday by family representative Adedeji Ademola Adeyemi, the house accused certain family members of historical revisionism by omitting the Adeyemi lineage from official records.
The family maintains that Adeyemi Anikilaya was the firstborn son of Oba Anikilaya Saagun, the 19th century Awujale who reigned until 1821, with Ogbagba and Ademolu being his younger brothers.
The statement provided historical context, revealing that Prince Ademola Aiyegbajeje Adeyemi was initially selected for the throne in 1959 following Oba Daniel Adesanya’s death but declined the offer. This paved the way for his nephew, the late Oba Adetona, to ascend the throne in 1960.
The Adeyemi house particularly disputes the inclusion of three individuals – Mabadeje, Adekoya Ofirigidi, and Adeire Adeewu – as descendants of Oba Anikilaya Saagun in the family genealogy.
Describing these additions as historically inaccurate, the family insists the Adeyemi lineage remains the senior branch of the Anikilaya dynasty. They have called on the public to disregard competing claims, which they characterize as fabricated narratives by a minority faction.
The controversy emerges as preparations begin for selecting a new Awujale, with the Adeyemi house seeking formal recognition of its status in the succession process.
This dispute highlights the complex interplay of tradition, genealogy, and power dynamics in Yoruba royal succession systems, particularly for one of the region’s most prominent traditional stools. The Ijebu Traditional Council has yet to officially respond to the claims as the selection process for a new monarch begins.
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cc: Punch NG
