The Ogun State Government has distanced itself from rumours alleging that Prince Ademorin Aliu Kuye has been chosen through the Ifa oracle as the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, the government described the claims as false and misleading, urging members of the public to disregard them.

The statement followed reports circulating in some quarters that the Ifa oracle had selected Prince Kuye as the successor to the late Awujale and that the state government had endorsed the purported outcome.

However, the government firmly denied any involvement in or approval of such a process.

“The Government wishes to categorically state that it is not involved in, nor has it endorsed, any such claim,” the statement read.

According to the government, the selection and installation of the Awujale of Ijebuland is governed strictly by established laws, recognised traditional customs and laid-down procedures. It stressed that any suggestion that a candidate had been adopted or approved through an oracle or informal arrangement was untrue.

In a significant development, the government also announced that the process of filling the vacant stool of the Awujale has been temporarily suspended.

The decision, it said, was taken following the receipt of various complaints and petitions regarding the selection procedure.

The suspension is aimed at allowing a thorough review to ensure that the process remains transparent, lawful and acceptable to all stakeholders.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace, order and respect for traditional institutions across Ogun State.

It further advised members of the public to rely solely on official communications and to avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating tension or misunderstanding within Ijebuland and beyond.

The revered stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland is one of the most prominent traditional institutions in Ogun State and the South-West region, attracting significant public interest whenever succession issues arise.