The Adeyemi ruling house of the Anikilaya dynasty has protested its exclusion from the Anikilaya ruling house, one of the families traditionally recognized to produce candidates for the stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The protest follows the recent passing of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who ascended the throne in 1960 and joined his ancestors last month. The Adeyemi family insists that attempts are being made to distort history and erase their rightful place in the royal lineage.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Adedeji Ademola Adeyemi, the family accused some members of the Anikilaya ruling house of deliberately removing the Adeyemi branch from the recognized lineage.

According to Adeyemi, Prince Adeyemi Anikilaya was the eldest crown prince of Oba Anikilaya Saagun, who reigned in 1821, with Ogbagba and Ademolu as his younger brothers. He recalled that in 1959, following the demise of Oba Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II, Prince Ademola Aiyegbajeje Adeyemi was initially selected for the Awujale stool but declined the offer. His immediate younger brother, Prince Rafiu Adetona Adeleke, later put forward his son, Sikiru Kayode Adetona of the Adeyemi Anikilaya family, who was eventually crowned as the Awujale in 1960.

The Adeyemi ruling house rejected claims by some members of the family who, according to them, erroneously denied the Adeyemis recognition as the eldest lineage, while also including individuals they described as outsiders.

“Putting the record straight, the Adeyemi ruling house rejects the inclusion of Mabadeje, Adekoya Ofirigidi, and Adeire Adeewu, who were never known as children of Oba Anikilaya Saagun Figbajoye,” the statement read.

Reaffirming their position, the family stressed that they remain direct descendants of Adeyemi Anikilaya, the eldest son of Oba Anikilaya Saagun Figbajoye, and therefore cannot be sidelined in matters concerning the royal succession.

The family further called on the public to disregard what it described as “false and misleading submissions” being circulated in the media by a few “misguided individuals” within the ruling house.