By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
A mild drama unfolded at the private residence of the late Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on Monday, as traditional worshippers stormed the burial site shortly before religious rites were to be conducted.
The unexpected development came amid lingering controversy over the burial rites of traditional rulers in Ogun State, following the enactment of a contentious law that permits monarchs to be buried in accordance with their personal religious belief as significant departure from long standing customs and traditions.
The Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021, particularly Section 55, outlines the framework for the preservation and regulation of traditional burial rites. While subsection (ii) acknowledges the rights of monarchs to be buried according to custom, subsections (iii) to (v) provide procedural safeguards and requirements before such customs can be enforced.
Despite this legal backing, a group of traditionalists, reportedly numbering several dozens, arrived at the Awujale’s residence insisting on performing traditional burial rites. However, they were swiftly prevented from gaining access by security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Army, who escorted them away from the premises.
The development comes in the wake of a lecture recently delivered by Justice P.O. Akinside of the Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State, in which he stated that traditional rulers are duty-bound to undergo traditional burial rites in line with cultural heritage. The state government, however, quickly distanced itself from the statement, describing it as the personal opinion of the jurist, and not a judicial pronouncement.
As debates over the proper burial protocol for traditional rulers continue, the incident at the Awujale’s burial underscores the growing tension between cultural heritage and modern legal reforms in Ogun State.
