The Afobaje Council on Friday lambasted the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, for sending a letter to the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, referring to himself as the head of the Council and nominating five princes for consideration in filling the throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Olisa had in a correspondence signed as the head of Ilamuren Kingmakers told Abiodun to choose among the five princes.
However, the Council, led by Chief Sunny Kuku, dismissed that notion.
The Council said it has not conferred any such rights on Adesanya.
The Council members, in a statement jointly signed, said the Olisa has no authority to parade himself as their leader.
They also faulted the Olisa for referring to himself as Alaiyeluwa, a title reserved for crowned traditional rulers.
The statement was signed by six members of the Council.
Apart from Kuku, Olor’Ogun and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu, others who endorsed the letter were Chief Kunle Ogunade, Apebi of Ijebu; Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal,Olootu Ifore; Chief Lekan Osifeso, Olootu Olowa; Chief O. Okenla, Kakanfo; and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, Lapoekun of Ijebu Ode and Secretary of the Awujale Afobaje Council.
The statement reads:
OFFICIAL REBUTTAL TO THE PURPORTED LETTER OF CHIEF RASHEED ADEOYE ADESANYA, THE OLISA OF IJEBU ODE TO THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE ON THE FILLING OF THE AWUJALE STOOL.
The attention of the Awujale Afobaje Council has been drawn to a letter dated 14th April, 2026, circulating in the public domain, purportedly authored by Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu Ode.
In the said letter, Chief Adesanya referred to himself as “Alaiyeluwa,” an appellation traditionally and exclusively reserved for a reigning Oba. As the Olisa of Ijebu Ode, Chief Adesanya, is not a crowned monarch, the use of such a title is inappropriate misleading and even criminal under the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.
More importantly, Chief Adesanya claimed in the same letter to be the Chairman of the Awujale Afobaje Council. This assertion is categorically false and contrary to the facts as contained in the Minutes of the Council’s meetings.
It is also pertinent to state that the Secretary to the Ijebu-Ode Local Government was present as an observer in the meetings that were held by the Council as required under Section 16.1(d) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.
The Chiefs Declaration of Western Nigeria, 1957, clearly stipulates the recognized Kingmakers (Afobaje) of Ijebu Ode who are vested with the responsibility of selecting an Awujale. These are:
1. The Olisa of Ijebu Ode
2. The Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode
3. The Egbo of Ijebu Ode (Vacant)
4. The Apebi of Ijebu Ode
5. The Olotufore of Ijebu Ode
6. The Olotu-Olowa of Ijebu Ode
7. The Ogbeni Odi of Ijebu Ode
8. The Ekeji Odi of Ijebu Ode (Vacant)
9. The Oluwo of Ijebu Ode (Vacant)
10. The Agbor of Ijebu Ode (Vacant)
11. The Kakanfo of Ijebu Ode
12. The Lapoekun of Ijebu Ode
13. The Balogun of Ijebu Ode
The Declaration is SILENT on who the Chairman is.
However at the inaugural meeting of the Awujale Afobaje Council held at the Aafin Awujale on 2nd December 2025 at 11:30 a.m., all the nine duly recognized Afobaje Chiefs, except those positions currently vacant, were in attendance.
