Rebuttal: Clarifying the Truth About the Burial of the Awujale of Ijebuland
The Office of the Grand Chief Imam of Ijebuland has issued a strong rebuttal against a misleading report by Vanguard News, which inaccurately claimed that the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON, Ọgbàgbà II, was buried according to traditional rites.
In a statement released on Monday, the religious office expressed deep concern over what it described as a “blatantly inaccurate and jaundiced” publication, stating unequivocally that the revered monarch was buried strictly in line with Islamic rites, in accordance with his well-known religious convictions.
“It must be stated with utmost clarity and finality that the remains of Oba Adetona were buried strictly according to Islamic rites,” the statement affirmed. “His Janāzah (funeral prayer) was observed, and no traditional ceremonies that conflict with Islamic teachings were performed.”
The rebuttal condemned the report as a “grievous insult” to the monarch’s memory and values, noting that such misinformation undermines the monarch’s lifelong devotion to Islam and misleads the public.
“This is either the result of journalistic negligence or a deliberate attempt to distort the truth,” the statement added, urging the public to disregard the report in its entirety.
Furthermore, the Grand Imam’s Office demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from Vanguard News, addressed to the royal family, the Muslim Ummah, and the people of Ijebuland.
“The legacy of Oba Adetona is rooted in truth, honour, and steadfast Islamic principles. We have a collective responsibility to uphold this legacy and reject all attempts to tarnish it with baseless fabrications,” the statement concluded.