‘Late Awujale Warns Against Suspending Celebration of Ojude Oba’

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Organising Committee of the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival yesterday disclosed that the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, warned against suspending the celebration of the socio-cultural festival of the land, Ojude Oba, after his demise or during the period of interregnum.

The committee disclosed the wish of the late monarch, who joined his ancestors last year after reigning for 65 years, at a news briefing to herald the 2026 celebration with the theme: ‘Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating The Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona.’

The news briefing, held within the premises of the palace in Ijebu Ode, was attended by members of the Organising Committee, sponsors, and partners, who seized the opportunity to exhibit their products and services.

According to the committee, the disclosure of the warning of the late Awujale was sequel to the insinuations in some quarters that the celebration may be suspended due to the demise of the monarch.

Addressing journalists, the Coordinator of the Ojude Oba Festival, Professor Fassy Yusuf, said the 2026 edition of the Ojúdé Ọba Festival was to honour the legacy of the late Awujale, who displayed unalloyed commitment to the transformation of Ijebuland.

He said: “The 2026 Edition of Ojude Oba Festival is therefore not only a celebration of culture and heritage, but also a solemn tribute to the longest reigning monarch in the history of Ijebuland, a revered royal icon whose legacies remain indelible and whose impact will continue to resonate across generations.

“Indeed, the legacies of Oba Sikiru Adetona are timeless, unforgettable, and eternally cherished.

“Today’s gathering is a reaffirmation of the resilience, continuity, and enduring heritage of the Ijebu people.

“In recent times, certain voices and interests, through both traditional and social media platforms, have sought to create uncertainty around the continuity of the Ojude Oba Festival following the

transition of our highly revered monarch.

“Various campaigns and insinuations, particularly the narrative of ‘No Awujale, No Ojude Oba’, attempted to cast doubt on the future of this globally acclaimed cultural institution.

“However, history, tradition, and the collective will of the Ijebu people have prevailed. The Ojude Oba Festival transcends personalities; it is a timeless

cultural heritage deeply rooted in the identity, pride,e and unity of the Ijebu nation.   Suspending the festival because of the royal transition would not only have undermined decades of cultural preservation and economic advancement but would also have inflicted immeasurable loss on our people, our traditions, our tourism potential, our economy, and our global cultural standing.

“Indeed, our highly respected late Kabiyesi himself made it abundantly clear that Ojude Oba must never be suspended on account of his passage or during any interregnum. According to his noble conviction, the festival remains a sacred cultural institution that must continue to flourish up to eternity.”

The committee added: “It is, therefore, with great pride, confidence, and a deep sense of responsibility that we announce to the world today that the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival shall hold with all its grandeur and splendour by the grace of Almighty God. The festival remains alive, vibrant, and firmly established as a unifying symbol of

our heritage, our religious tolerance, our pride, and our collective destiny as a people.”

Yusuf said the theme of this year’s celebration was profoundly inspired by the remarkable life, enduring legacy, and monumental contributions of the late Adetona, “whose reign was marked by uncommon courage, visionary leadership, unwavering devotion to the Ijebu people, and transformational strides in governance.”

The coordinator said the globally acclaimed annual Ojude Oba Festival is one of the most treasured cultural celebrations of the Ijebu people of Southwest Nigeria.

He said the festival was originally rooted in Islam, but has, over time, evolved into a grand cultural event embraced by people of all faiths and backgrounds-Muslims, Christians, traditionalists, and non-believers- saying the festival has a history spanning over a century.

Highlighting some features of the festival, Yusuf said they include colourful pageantry and a magnificent display of culture and tradition by Ijebu sons and daughters, who appear elegantly in their various age-grades (Regberegbe), adorned in resplendent traditional attire.

He added that the festival equally showcases the captivating equestrian

performances by descendants of ancient Ijebu warlords with heroic exploits

in the precolonial era.