A fresh traditional leadership controversy is brewing in Ibadan, Oyo State, as members of the Olufadejin family of Alekuso have appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to halt the alleged imposition of a Mogaji (compound head), while also calling on the Oyo State Government to intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The family alleged that the planned installation of Mr. Fatai Omosanjo Amzat as Mogaji, despite what it described as an unresolved selection process, could spark avoidable tension and undermine the long-standing customs governing the appointment of traditional title holders in Ibadanland.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Elder Dauda Adesina on behalf of the family, the Olufadejin family said the vacant stool, created by the death of the immediate past Mogaji and Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, on April 4, 2025, had yet to be validly filled through the family’s internal selection process.
According to the statement, Akeem Adeojo and Fatai Omosanjo Amzat contested for the vacant position during an exercise supervised by the Mogaji Committee. While Akeem Adeojo reportedly won the first ballot, Amzat rejected the outcome, leading to a second election that ended in a tie.
The family alleged that instead of allowing another round of voting to determine a winner, one of its elders, Lateef Busari, allegedly lobbied for Amzat and vowed to leverage his personal relationship with the Olubadan to secure his installation.
Members said they were therefore shocked to discover that Amzat’s name had allegedly been included among those scheduled for installation as Mogajis.
”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,” the statement read.
The Olubadan-in-Council had already concluded the list of Mogajis to be installed before the monarch allegedly attempted to include his preferred candidate.
The family maintained that the alleged development runs contrary to the customs and traditions of Ibadanland, where families are expected to freely nominate and agree on their Mogaji before the Olubadan ratifies the choice.
Appealing directly to the monarch, the family urged Oba Ladoja to withdraw Amzat’s name from the proposed installation list in the interest of justice, fairness and the preservation of Ibadan’s traditional institution.
It also called on the Oyo State Government to intervene to safeguard peace and ensure that the established procedures for the selection of Mogajis are respected, warning that any departure from due process could create unnecessary tension in Ibadan.
”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. We also call on the Oyo State Government to intervene in the interest of peace and ensure that the age-long customs guiding the appointment of Mogajis in Ibadanland are upheld,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Olubadan’s Palace nor the Oyo State Government had issued an official response to the allegations.
