Organisers of the globally celebrated Ojude Oba Festival have dismissed claims that the annual cultural event would be suspended following the death of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, insisting that the late monarch personally directed that the festival must continue even after his passing.
The clarification came on Tuesday during a world press conference held at the Awujale Palace in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, ahead of the 2026 edition of the festival scheduled for May 29, 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, the festival coordinator, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, said the late monarch regarded Ojude Oba as a sacred cultural institution that transcended any individual ruler and symbolised the identity, unity and religious harmony of the Ijebu people.
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Yusuf said attempts by some social media commentators to push the narrative of “No Awujale, No Ojude Oba” were contrary to the wishes of the late monarch and the collective resolve of the Ijebu people.
“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,” Yusuf said.
“According to his noble conviction, the festival remains a sacred cultural institution that must continue to flourish up to eternity.”
He explained that the 2026 edition, themed “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona,” would honour the monarch’s enduring contributions to Ijebuland, traditional leadership and cultural preservation.
According to Yusuf, the late Awujale transformed the institution of monarchy during his reign by promoting development, religious tolerance and global recognition for the Ijebu nation.
He said preparations for the festival had already advanced before the monarch’s death and consultations with traditional chiefs, regberegbe age-grade groups and other stakeholders reaffirmed the decision to proceed with the celebration.
The organisers also confirmed that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele Abiodun, are among dignitaries expected at the event. Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, former Senate President David Mark and former Bayelsa governor Seriake Dickson are also expected to attend.
Ojude Oba, held two days after Eid-el-Kabir, has evolved into one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural festivals, attracting thousands of tourists, celebrities and diaspora visitors yearly.
The event is famous for its colourful regberegbe parades, elaborate traditional attire, horse-riding displays by warrior families and celebration of Ijebu heritage.
This year’s edition is expected to feature about 90 male and female age-grade groups alongside 25 renowned warrior families known historically for defending the old Ijebu kingdom before colonial rule.
Yusuf said suspending the festival because of the ongoing transition in the Awujale stool would have dealt a major blow to cultural preservation, tourism and the economy of Ijebuland.
Historical accounts show the festival originated from Muslim faithful paying homage to the Awujale after Eid-el-Kabir in appreciation of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence granted by the monarch. Over time, the gathering evolved into a major cultural showcase recognised globally for promoting unity and communal harmony.
The succession process for a new Awujale is still ongoing following reported delays involving the Fusengbuwa ruling house and kingmakers in Ijebu-Ode.
Organisers, however, insist the absence of a reigning Awujale would not diminish the grandeur of the 2026 celebration.
