Traditional worshippers in Ogun State have said they will challenge the state government over what they described as “coercive measures” aimed at altering the traditional burial rites of monarchs in the state.

The traditionalists rejected the Obas and Chiefs Law of 2021, which stipulated that traditional rulers can be buried according to their religious dispositions.

To preserve tradition, they argued that traditional rulers must be buried according to the “established tradition.”

On Monday, the traditionalists, believed to be members of the Osugbo cult, were barred from the funeral held for the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

The presence of the cult members caused apprehension as they were rejected by the people, while soldiers escorted them out of the Awujale’s residence.

The remains of the monarch were later interred at his Ijebu Ode private residence around 6pm, according to Islamic rites.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Coordinator of the Traditional Worshippers Association of Ogun State, Chief Ifasola Opeodu, said the government crossed the line with the use of security forces against the traditionalists.

He accused the state government of overstepping its bounds by deploying security operatives to prevent the performance of traditional burial rites for the late monarch.

“Deploying police, army, and other security agencies against the traditionalists is against the law.

We are okay with the Obas and Chiefs Law of 2021, that is why we are not fighting them.

But now that they are devising a series of coercive measures against the traditionalists, then we too have to find a legal way to go against it,” he said.

Opeodu, who is the Vice Chairman of Osugbo Remo Parapo and the Oluwo of Iperu, the hometown of Governor Dapo Abiodun, argued that the law did not give traditional rulers the right to be buried according to their religion.

“Initially, when the law was made, the traditional rulers were jubilating that they have the right to be buried according to their religion, which is not in the law. Where was it written in the law that an Oba has the right to choose the religion that will bury him?

“We are just watching the way things are unfolding; we know with time things will take shape, but what is happening now is a very big slap on democracy and the rule of law,” Opeodu said.

He expressed displeasure over how the Awujale was buried, saying, “That is not the way to bury a traditional ruler. The Alaperu of Iperuland (Oba Adeleke Basibo) and the Alaye of Odogbolu (Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa) were not buried that way; in their cases, it was the communities that took possession of the monarchs’ corpses.”

Opeodu blamed the Osugbos for failing to take possession of the late Awujale’s corpse before the burial ceremony, saying “they failed in their responsibilities and allowed the Islamic clerics to take over the burial.”

The traditionalist maintained that only the judiciary has the constitutional mandate to interpret laws, adding that the misinterpretation of the law guiding royal burials has created unnecessary tension and embarrassment.

“The law should not be interpreted by the executive arm of government; it is the responsibility of the judiciary. Even during the NBA lecture in Sagamu, Justice Phillips Akinside emphasised this.” (Saturday PUNCH)