Traditional religion practitioners in Ogun State have openly criticised Governor Dapo Abiodun following his recent signing of the chieftaincy bill abolishing seclusion rituals for the installation and burial of Obas.
Speaking in reaction to the new law, the traditionalists described the governor’s decision as an affront to Yoruba culture and heritage, arguing that the seclusion rites, known as Ipebi, are not mere rituals but spiritual processes integral to the authority, protection, and legitimacy of any Oba.
According to their statements, the Ipebi serves as an initiation and orientation period where a prospective monarch is taught about the customs, secrets, and responsibilities of rulership. Removing such rites, they argue, strips traditional stools of their sacred essence, reducing the position of an Oba to a mere political appointment.
Key Points Raised by Traditionalists:
- The law undermines centuries-old Yoruba customs safeguarding the spiritual wellbeing of communities.
- An Oba installed without Ipebi is considered incomplete and spiritually unfit to lead.
- Political leaders do not have the power to abolish cultural and ancestral traditions that predate colonial constitutions.
One speaker in the viral video said:
“Our kings are spiritual heads, not just political appointees. You cannot remove tradition from their installation without consequences for the land and its people.”
They called on the Ogun State government to reconsider the decision, warning that such legal reforms may trigger cultural crises and erode the authority of traditional institutions across Yorubaland.
Governor Dapo Abiodun had signed the bill earlier this week, stating that the law protects the fundamental human rights and religious freedoms of traditional rulers in the state.
