Tradition VS Power: The politics and law of the Awujale succession
By Olalekan A. Shoyinka
The unfolding developments surrounding the succession to the revered throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland call for calm, informed, and objective reflection. Beyond emotions and personal loyalties, what is emerging is a clear illustration of how traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria increasingly intersect with law, politics, and state power.
Central to this evolving narrative is the filing of a Motion Ex-Parte at the High Court of Ogun State, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, by Prince Wasiu Olasunkanmi Ayinde Adesanya Marshal (K1). The suit seeks an interim injunction restraining all respondents from taking further steps toward the installation of a new Awujale of Ijebuland pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. Notably, those listed as respondents include the Executive Governor of Ogun State, the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, relevant commissioners, the Attorney-General of Ogun State, and the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, among others.
This legal action alone significantly alters the landscape of the succession process. Once a matter dominated by palace traditions, ruling house deliberations, and cultural conventions, the Awujale succession has now firmly entered the realm of constitutional law and political administration. By invoking the authority of the court at this stage, the dispute transcends oral history and customary narratives and becomes subject to legal interpretation, procedural fairness, and judicial restraint.
Equally significant is K1’s emergence as “OLÓRÍ ỌMỌỌBA”, a title that places him within the traditional framework as Arẹmọ, widely understood as the heir apparent. In Yoruba monarchical systems, titles are rarely ornamental. They often function as both cultural signifiers and structural instruments that shape legitimacy over time. As such, the emergence of this title cannot be dismissed as accidental or merely ceremonial; rather, it appears consistent with a broader, carefully sequenced process.
What this situation reveals is the contrast between two approaches to traditional succession in the modern era. On one hand are those who rely primarily on ancestral entitlement, historical assumptions, and perceived birthrights. On the other are those who recognise that contemporary kingship succession now operates within a complex matrix of documentation, political alignment, administrative procedure, and legal foresight. Increasingly, it is the latter approach that determines outcomes.
The court action also draws attention to an uncomfortable but undeniable reality: traditional institutions no longer function independently of political power. The inclusion of top government officials and institutions as respondents underscores the extent to which the state has become an unavoidable stakeholder in matters of traditional leadership. Whether by design or by circumstance, political authority now plays a pivotal role in shaping traditional transitions.
This development should not be misread as a prediction of victory or defeat for any party. Courts exist to adjudicate based on evidence and law, not sentiment or public pressure. However, history has repeatedly shown that those who understand institutional processes and engage them early often gain strategic advantage over those who arrive later armed only with moral arguments or popular sympathy.
The broader implication for Ijebuland — and indeed for Yorubaland — is profound. The current episode is not merely about who wears the crown, but about how power is negotiated in a modern society where tradition, law, and politics increasingly converge. It raises critical questions about the future of customary institutions and the frameworks within which they now operate.
As events continue to unfold, it is important for observers to separate personal preference from observable reality. What is happening is not an aberration but a reflection of changing times. The path to the Awujale’s throne, like many others across the country, has moved beyond the palace courtyard into the courtroom, and from there into the broader arena of political governance.
Whether this process ultimately produces consensus or controversy remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in today’s Nigeria, tradition alone no longer determines power; preparation, positioning, and institutional engagement do.
Chief Olalekan A. Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba),Gbadegesin Ijemo, Egbaland; Otun Araba-Baaroyin, Orile-Igbore, Egbaland writes from Abeokuta.
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