A fresh traditional leadership dispute is brewing in Ibadan, Oyo State, as members of the Olufadejin family of Alekuso, Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, have alleged of a planned imposition of Mogaji (compound head) on the family.
This was as the family appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to forestall any attempt by any individual or group to impose a preferred candidate as the family’s Mogaji (compound head), contrary to established customs.
The family, in a statement issued on Saturday by Elder Dauda Adesina on its behalf, alleged that the family has uncovered plans to install Mr. Fatai Omosanjo Amzat as the Mogaji of the Olufadejin family despite what it described as an unresolved family selection process.
The position became vacant following the death of the immediate past Mogaji, the late Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, who passed away on April 4, 2025.
Adeojo was a former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State.
According to the statement, two members of the family; Mr. Akeem Adeojo and Mr. Fatai Omosanjo Amzat, contested for the vacant stool during a selection exercise supervised by the Mogaji Committee.
The family claimed that Akeem Adeojo emerged victorious in the first ballot but that the outcome was challenged by Amzat, leading to a second election which reportedly ended in a tie.
Rather than conduct another round of voting to break the deadlock, the family alleged that one of its elders, Lateef Busari, canvassed support for Amzat and allegedly vowed to use his personal relationship with the Olubadan to secure his emergence.
The statement further alleged that members were surprised to discover that Amzat’s name had been allegedly included among the list of compound heads scheduled for installation by the Olubadan.
“What happened is this: the selection of a Mogaji is an internal family affair. We had two contestants, Akeem Adeojo and Fatai Omosanjo Amzat.
“In the first election, Akeem defeated Fatai, but he rejected the result. A second election ended in a draw.
“Instead of conducting a third election, one of our elders insisted that Fatai should emerge and even promised to use his personal relationship with the Olubadan to influence the process.
“To our amazement, the Olubadan later listed Fatai Omosanjo Amzat among the compound heads to be installed.
“We expected our revered monarch to invite the contestants and family members for dialogue instead of imposing a candidate on us,” the statement read.
The family argued that the imposition of a Mogaji runs contrary to the customs and traditions of Ibadanland, where families are expected to freely choose their compound heads before the Olubadan ratifies the selection.
It appealed to Oba Ladoja to withdraw Amzat’s name from the proposed installation list in the interest of peace and age long custom of Ibadanland in the selection process of Mogaji.
“We respectfully appeal to our revered monarch, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to remove the name of Fatai Omosanjo Amzat from the list of proposed Mogajis to avoid creating a crisis within the Olufadejin family.
“The Olubadan-in-Council had already concluded the list of Mogajis to be installed before the monarch allegedly attempted to include his preferred candidate.
“Our late Mogaji, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, had political differences with the Olubadan until his death. He should allow our family to rest. Why should someone be imposed on us?” the family queried.
The family maintained that the matter should be resolved through due process and urged the traditional institution to uphold the long-standing customs governing the selection of Mogajis in Ibadan.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the Olubadan’s Palace to the allegations.