From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan

Oba Adetona, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was laid to rest according to Islamic rites—a move that has caused controversy and backlash from traditionalist groups.

At a press conference held in Ibadan on Saturday, the ICIR expressed strong disapproval of the burial method, arguing that it contravened established Yoruba customs as well as the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law. The council’s president, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, speaking through the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayanladun Fajemisin, and legal counsel, Barr. Ifasola Opeodu, stated that the group would challenge the “anomaly” in court.

Dr. Fakayode referenced a judicial ruling made while the monarch was still alive, which upheld the traditional method of burying Yoruba kings and rejected foreign religious practices, including Islam and Christianity, in such rites.

“The burial arrangement clearly violated Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section ii of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law,” Fakayode said. “What occurred is not merely a burial anomaly—it is a cultural assault that undermines the very foundation of Yoruba heritage and tradition.”

He commended the Osugbo Confraternity, the traditional custodians of burial rites for Ijebu monarchs, for maintaining peace despite being allegedly barred from performing their traditional role during the burial.

“This poignant moment reminds us that the gentleness of a lion is not a sign of weakness but a testament to its wisdom,” Fakayode stated, urging all Yoruba people to stand up in defense of cultural practices.

The ICIR condemned what it described as “disrespect” shown to the Osugbo Confraternity by the monarch’s family, government officials, and security personnel.

The council also warned against the ongoing erosion of Yoruba traditional values, calling it a deliberate plot by “invaders” whose offspring now work to erase the cultural identity of the people.

In his remarks, ICIR’s legal representative, Barr. Ifasola Opeodu, described the Islamic burial as a “violation of state law” and a threat to the rights of traditionalists. He accused Islamic clerics, led by the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, of acting in defiance of the law and of imposing religious doctrine on a lawful traditional institution.

“The actions of the family, state government, and security agencies not only violate existing laws but also represent a threat to democracy and a denial of religious freedom for traditional believers,” Opeodu said.

The ICIR vowed to pursue legal redress to prevent a repeat of such an incident in the future, insisting that the sanctity of Yoruba traditions must be upheld and protected in the face of modern religious pressures.