Nigerian Political Parties Clash Over Royal Burial Curfew
A significant political dispute has erupted in Nigeria's Osun State following the government's imposition of a 24-hour curfew during the traditional burial rites of the late Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun, the disputed Owa of Igbajoland, who passed away on Friday.
Opposition Challenges Government Decision
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally accused the state government of deliberately disrupting the seven-day traditional burial rites that commenced on Sunday. Party chairman Tajudeen Lawal expressed concern over what he described as the administration's inappropriate timing of security measures.
The opposition party emphasised that Oba Famodun had been legally reinstated as the rightful monarch by the High Court of Osun State on 31 January 2025, following an earlier executive nullification of his November 2022 coronation. This judicial decision, according to the APC, established his legitimate claim to proper traditional burial honours.
Government Defends Security Measures
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) responded by defending the curfew as a necessary security precaution based on intelligence reports indicating potential civil unrest. Party chairman Sunday Bisi stated that Governor Ademola Adeleke acted within constitutional authority to maintain public order.
According to official statements, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that the curfew followed reports of deteriorating law and order from Sunday night into Monday morning. Security adviser Samuel Ojo had reportedly identified escalating tensions among residents following the monarch's death.
Constitutional Authority and Traditional Protocol
The dispute highlights the delicate balance between maintaining civil order and respecting traditional customs in Nigeria's complex political landscape. Both parties have called upon the Inspector-General of Police to intervene, though with opposing objectives regarding the curfew's continuation.
The controversy underscores broader questions about governmental authority over traditional institutions and the appropriate protocols for managing succession disputes within established monarchical structures.