Government reaffirms AIAC’s legal authority, warns against dealings with unauthorised alternative administrative groups
By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
The Ogun State Government has reconstituted the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC), appointing the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, as Chairman and Chief Chris Okunowo as Secretary, in a move aimed at strengthening administrative continuity and preserving traditional stability in Ijebuland pending the emergence of a new Awujale.
The reconstitution, announced on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, follows the reported withdrawal of some members of the council, which was established by the state government in August 2025 to oversee the administrative and traditional affairs of Ijebuland during the interregnum.
The development comes amid disagreements surrounding the emergence of a group reportedly known as Adele Oba Awujale, which the government has declared to have no legal or customary recognition under the existing chieftaincy framework in Ogun State.
In its statement, the government maintained that the withdrawal of some members from the AIAC did not invalidate the council or diminish its legal authority, insisting that it remained the only legally recognised administrative body empowered to manage the affairs of Ijebuland pending the appointment and coronation of a new Awujale.
The government also clarified that Chief Chris Okunowo and Alhaji Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, had publicly dissociated themselves from the reported mass withdrawal.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Adele Oba Awujale group, the state government stated categorically that neither the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration nor the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021 provides for such a body or assigns it any recognised responsibility in the administration of the Awujale stool.
It further explained that the Chiefs Law of 1957, which some former members reportedly relied upon to justify the emergence of the group, was a pre-independence legislation that no longer applied to Ogun State, noting that the state had operated under its own legislative framework since its creation in 1976.
Government Cites Court Judgment
In further defending the legitimacy of the AIAC, the government referred to a consent judgment delivered by the Ogun State High Court in suit number HCJ/180/2025, involving Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, against the Executive Council of Ogun State and 16 others.
According to the government, the judgment affirmed the legality, validity and authority of the AIAC as the administrative body established by the state government to oversee the administrative and traditional responsibilities of Ijebu-Ode pending the appointment and coronation of a new Awujale.
The statement noted that all members of the council were parties to the suit and had consented to the judgment, which recognised the authority of the administrative arrangement established by the state government.
The government further recalled that the court affirmed that where a conflict arose between the responsibilities of the administrative body and the traditional functions of the Olisa, the authority of the administrative body would take precedence.
It emphasised that the judgment had not been appealed and remained binding on the parties involved.
Government Warns Against Unauthorised Transactions
While acknowledging that individual members of the council retained the right to withdraw from the administrative arrangement, the state government stressed that such withdrawal could not confer legal authority on another organisation or group to assume the responsibilities assigned to the AIAC.
Consequently, the government cautioned members of the public against engaging in official transactions or administrative dealings with individuals who had withdrawn from the council in their purported capacity as members of an alternative administrative body.
It also urged former members to refrain from any actions capable of violating existing laws or undermining the peace, stability and traditional harmony of Ijebuland.
The government explained that the warning was necessary to prevent confusion over the administration of traditional affairs and ensure that the ongoing interregnum did not create competing centres of authority within the ancient Ijebu kingdom.
New Leadership, Five-Member Council
To guarantee continuity and effective administration, the government announced the reconstitution of the AIAC with five members, comprising traditional chiefs and other recognised stakeholders.
The reconstituted council is made up of:
- Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, Olisa of Ijebu-Ode – Chairman.
- Chief Chris Okunowo, Bobasuwa – Secretary.
- Prof. Jide Ajayi, Jagun Aso – Member.
- Chief Stephen O. Bakare, Babalaje – Member.
- Chief Alade Shote, Otun Balogun – Member.
The government stated that the reconstituted council would continue to discharge the legally recognised administrative and traditional responsibilities assigned to the AIAC until a new Awujale is appointed and formally crowned.
The appointment of Adesanya as Chairman and Okunowo as Secretary is expected to provide leadership and administrative direction for the council as it continues to manage the affairs of Ijebuland during the transition period.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Succession
Reaffirming its position, the Ogun State Government said it remained committed to upholding the rule of law, respecting established traditional institutions and ensuring that the succession process to the vacant Awujale stool was conducted peacefully and transparently.
The government maintained that the reconstitution was necessary to protect the integrity of the traditional institution, prevent administrative uncertainty and ensure that the affairs of Ijebuland continued without disruption while the process of selecting a new Awujale progressed.
The Awujale stool remains one of the most revered traditional institutions in Ogun State, with significant cultural, historical and socio-political importance to the Ijebu people.
The latest development therefore represents a significant step by the state government towards maintaining an orderly administrative structure in Ijebuland during the interregnum, while reinforcing its position on the legal framework governing the vacant traditional stool.
As the succession process continues to attract attention across Ijebuland and beyond, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the reconstituted council manages the traditional affairs of the kingdom and contributes to a peaceful transition towards the emergence of a new Awujale.
