The death of the reinstated Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famodun, has thrown the already volatile kingship tussle in Igbajoland, Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State, into fresh uncertainty, with legal battles over the throne still unresolved.
Oba Famodun, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, died on Friday, at the age of 67 after a brief illness.
His passing comes at a critical moment in the prolonged dispute over the Owa of Igbajo stool, which has been locked in political and judicial contention since 2022.
Famodun was installed as the 30th Owa of Igbajo in the closing days of the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
However, shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office, the monarch was removed through an executive order, and a new Owa, Oba Ademola Makinde, was appointed in his place.
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The matter escalated to court, and in January 2025, the Osun State High Court ordered the reinstatement of Famodun, a ruling that is presently under challenge at the Court of Appeal.
As of his death, the conflict over the legitimate occupant of the throne had not been finally resolved, leaving the Igbajo monarchy sharply divided.
Reacting to the development, Governor Adeleke, in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, the APC, and the people of Igbajo.
He described the late monarch as a close family friend and a respected political figure who contributed to the state’s political evolution.
“I got the shocking news as I was arriving in the country today. Our late brother was a close family friend. We mourn his sudden death, and we join the family in this grieving period. I pray his soul rests in perfect peace,” the governor said.
The Gbeleru Royal Family of Igbajo confirmed the death in a separate statement signed by Prince Adekunle Famodun in Osogbo.
The family noted that although his position as Owa was disputed by a government white paper, he was reinstated by the High Court on January 30, 2025.
With his death, attention has now shifted to the future of the Igbajo throne, as legal experts and community stakeholders await guidance on whether the ongoing appeal will continue, be struck out, or pave the way for a fresh succession process.
For now, the kingship crisis remains unresolved, threatening to prolong tension within the ancient town.
