The Chief Priest of Ijebuland and Olowa Iberu, Chief Rasaki Osimodi, has warned that spiritual consequences may befall the royal family and the wider Ijebu community following the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, without traditional rites.

In an exclusive interview with Punch Newspaper, Chief Osimodi lamented that traditional custodians were denied access to perform the age-old rituals necessary for the monarch’s peaceful transition, a development he described as “painful and dangerous.”

 “Yes, there will be consequences,” Chief Osimodi stated. “They may not happen immediately, but certainly, spiritual repercussions will follow for not following tradition and doing what is right.”

The Awujale, who died on July 13 at the age of 91, was buried the following day in Ijebu-Ode, according to Islamic rites, sparking outrage among traditionalists who claim that the king’s spiritual obligations were abandoned. The Chief Priest alleged that the late monarch’s children, supported by state security forces, barred traditional groups from accessing the burial site.

 “Soldiers were everywhere. One of the king’s sons, Ade, told our people that his father never associated with them, so they should leave,” he said. “The Lisa had already warned us not to fight, so we left peacefully.”

Chief Osimodi, who oversees the Obinrin Ojowu deity, revealed that the traditional rites neglected at the burial are essential for the spiritual well-being of the land and its people. He said traditional authorities have begun urgent corrective rituals to avert calamity, including the closure of major markets in Ijebuland for the traditional mourning period.

 “Markets like Oke Aje, Ita Osu, Oyingbo, and Itale have been shut for three months. We are doing what must be done to realign with tradition and protect the land,” he explained.

Despite claims by the royal family that Oba Adetona distanced himself from tradition, Chief Osimodi insisted the late monarch was deeply involved in traditional practices earlier in his reign, including the Oro, Agemo, and Obinrin Ojowu festivals, before withdrawing support in recent years.

The Chief Priest also accused the government of influencing the burial process.

“It was the government that signed an agreement with Baba Awujale that he must be buried according to Islamic rites. Who brought the armoured vehicles and soldiers? It wasn’t the family,” he said.

Chief Osimodi warned that continued government interference could derail the selection of the next Awujale. He urged authorities to allow the Lisa, the traditional head following the monarch’s demise, to oversee the process without disruption.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to depart Abuja on Sunday, July 20, to attend the eighth-day prayer ceremony in honour of the late Awujale. The event will take place at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode and will be attended by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and other dignitaries.

Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning monarchs, spent over six decades on the throne and left a legacy of development, peace, and cultural advancement, including the global recognition of the Ojude Oba festival and the revitalisation of the Regberegbe age-grade system.

Still, Chief Osimodi stressed that tradition must not be cast aside, even for a beloved king.

 “He was a good man and did much for Ijebuland. But in our culture, even the greatest of kings must return to the ancestors through the right channels. When that is ignored, it is the living who suffer the consequences.”