Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo has advised that nobody should refer to themselves or others as Awujale-elect in the ongoing conversations surrounding the revered stool.
He counseled supporters of all aspirants, including his own, to observe restraint and uphold respect for sacred traditional procedures.
According to his media team, referring to anyone as Awujale-elect undermines the established selection processes and trivialises the sacred nature of the throne.
He also said that he is not Awujale elect and has never described or presented himself as such.
Onabanjo expressed deep appreciation for the goodwill endorsements and organic promotions that had continued to trail his name from well meaning sons and daughters of Ijebuland.
He acknowledged that many of them supported him out of personal knowledge about him, testimonials from others or from what they had observed through his foundation.
Onabanjo also acknowledged that he had been compared to the Olu of Warri, citing posture comportment and youthfulness.
He stated that, while he appreciates the love and admiration behind such comparisons, it would be better if they stop out of respect for the established throne of Olu of Warri and to avoid unnecessary projections across royal institutions.
He stated that he is humbled and grateful to everyone posting, speaking or promoting him based on what they know firsthand or through what they had heard or seen. He however appealed that nobody should call him Awujale-elect Awujale-in-waiting or any similar designation.
He emphasised that the Awujale can only emerge through the time honoured process involving selection by the ruling house and approval by the Ogun State Government. ‘No individual or group can announce or confer such status outside these established procedures’, he said.
Onabanjo stressed that this clarification has become necessary so that enthusiasm and excitement do not lead the public to ridicule the revered throne of the Awujale or trample on the sacred position and responsibilities of the kingmakers.
He reminded the public that the responsibility at this time is to pray for the ruling house that God and the ancestors would guide them to make the right choice for the future of Ijebuland.
