South-West / 21 Mar 2026

Ogun Monarchs dissociate themselves from Olu of Ilaro visit to Ijebu, traditional councils

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Ogun Monarchs dissociate themselves from Olu of Ilaro visit to Ijebu, traditional councils

By Ismail Azeez

Some monarchs in Ogun West have distanced themselves from the recent visit by Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and a few traditional rulers to a strategic meeting with Ijebu and Remo traditional councils.

Speaking on behalf of the dissenting monarchs, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi said the visit which took place on March 17, 2026, was neither discussed nor approved by the Yewa Traditional Council.

He described the move as surprising and unrepresentative, noting that the majority of Ogun West Obas were unaware of the meeting.

According to him, the visit should not be taken seriously by stakeholders within Ogun West and across Ogun State.

"On behalf of many Obas in Ogun West, I, Oba (Dr.) Akintunde Akinyemi, JP, FCIMN, The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, write to publicly dissociate ourselves from the visit of Olu-Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Alayeluwa, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and a few Ogun West Obas to a Strategic Meeting with Obas in Ijebu and Remo Traditional Councils on Tuesday, 17th March, 2026."

"It is surprising to note on social media that Alayeluwa, Oba Olugbenle led a few Ogun West Obas to Ijebu and Remo Traditional Councils for a strategic meeting that was unknown to majority of us, i.e Ogun West Obas. The purported strategic meeting was never discussed at the Yewa Traditional Council, so such a meeting is rejected by some of us (Senior Obas and other colleagues) who are in the majority in Yewa Traditional Council. Therefore, such a visit should not be taken seriously by critical stakeholders in Ogun West and the State in general."

"On behalf of many of our colleagues, I want to appreciate The Akarigbo of Remo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi (Torungbuwa II), The Elepe of Epe in Remo Land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adewale Osiberu (Iruganyin Ekun II) and other revered monarchs in Remo Land and The Regent of Ijebu Kingdom,
Olori'ogun (Dr.) Sonny Folorunsho Kuku (The Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland), The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo (Ojuromi VI), The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba (Okokodanomeji II) and other revered Ijebu Obas for their usual support for Ogun West."

"We sincerely apologize on behalf of our leader and a few colleagues for visiting you all to discuss politics instead of paying a condolence visit over the death of the longest reigning monarch, Oba Sikiru Adetona, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Kingdom of blessed memory. We want to assure you all that we will definitely come to commiserate with you in a no distant time and later pay a visit to discuss the anticipated political collaboration between Ogun West and other Divisions of our dear State as we all prepare for the 2027 elections."

"It is undoubtedly true that Ogun West has been agitating to produce the next Governor of Ogun State, but the approach being adopted by Oba Olugbenle and a few Ogun West Obas is completely wrong and unacceptable. To all of us who were not consulted before embarking on the self serving journey, it is not ripe for any of such issues. If our leader, Oba Olugbenle had consulted us, we would have advised that going for such a strategic meeting at this moment would look like putting the cart before the horse. We would have insisted that a condolence visit should be paid first to Ijebu Traditional Council in order to commiserate with them on the demise of His Royal Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba Kayode Adetona, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Kingdom of blessed memory."

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR who is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Dapo Abiodun who is the State Leader of the party and other leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State have not named their flagbearer in Ogun State, so supporting one candidate over others at this moment is not ideal. It is true that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) is our beloved son, but we need to be very cautious not to cause any disharmony between him and other contestants like the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, i.e Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, former Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, i.e Chief Sharafa Ishola, daughter of former Nigerian President, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, Chief Jelili Amusan, etc."

"Stakeholders in Ogun West and the entire State should note, once again, that the visit of the Olu-Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Oba Olugbenle and a few Ogun West Obas to Ijebu and Remo Traditional Councils was not tabled for discussion at the Yewa Traditional Council, so everything done before, during and after the purported visit should be taken with a pinch of salt."

"Finally, it should be noted that majority of us in the Yewa Traditional Council will not take responsibility for an action taken on our behalf by our leader and a few colleagues whose action is viewed as self serving and unpopular," he said.