The Olufadejin family of Alekuso in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Monday, rejected the explanation by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, over the controversy surrounding the selection of the family’s Mogaji Compound Head), insisting that under the law and the customs of Ibadanland, the majority of the family has the exclusive right to choose its Mogaji.
The family’s response followed a statement issued by the Olubadan’s media aide, Adeola Oloko, dismissing allegations that the monarch was imposing Mr Fatai Omosanjo Amzat as Mogaji of the Olufadegin family.
The palace had maintained that the matter was considered by the Ibadan South-West Traditional Council and that Ibadan tradition does not reserve the Mogaji title for the section of a family that previously held it.
However, a statement released Olufadejin family and signed by Elder Dauda Adesina, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday, argued that the palace’s position was inconsistent with the provisions of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law, as amended in 2000.
According to the family, “The law empowers the majority of members of a ruling family to determine who becomes Mogaji, stressing that neither the Olubadan nor any other authority has the legal power to substitute the family’s decision with another candidate.
“The law does not permit the Olubadan to decide who becomes the Mogaji when the family has already made its decision by a simple majority.
“The Oyo State Chieftaincy Law, as reviewed in 2000, is clear that the majority of the family determines who their Mogaji will be,” the family said.
The family also faulted claims that Ibadan tradition prevents a section that previously produced a Mogaji from producing another successor, describing such an interpretation as inaccurate and unsupported by historical records.
To support its position, the family cited several examples where sons succeeded their fathers as Mogaji after the latter’s death.
The statement said, “The late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, was succeeded by his son as Mogaji after he vacated the position.
The Agboluaje family of Oja-Oba, Kazeem Agboluaje currently serves as Mogaji following the tenure of the late Chief Salami Agboluaje.
The late chief lekan salami whose son
also took over as mogaji
“The Akinlolu family, where Jokan Akinlolu succeeded his father, Chief Akinlolu, as Mogaji, alongside similar instances in the Adebimpe family.
“These precedents demonstrate that there is no customary prohibition against a family section producing successive Mogajis where members so decide.
“Olufadejin family comprises eight lineages and claimed that seven of the eight had endorsed Mr Akeem Adeojo as their preferred candidate.
“The house determines who becomes the Mogaji, not a minority. If seven out of the eight lineages have chosen Akeem, it does not concern any other person. It is the family that has the right to decide who leads it,” the family stated.
The family, therefore, urged the Olubadan to investigate those allegedly influencing the selection process rather than overturning what it described as the overwhelming decision of the majority.
The dispute follows the death of the immediate past Mogaji of the Olufadejin family and Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Yekini Adeojo, who died, on Friday, April 4, 2025.