By Funmi Adewoju Suleodu 

                                                                                                   As the race for the next Awujale of Ijebuland intensifies, a recurring argument has emerged in public discussions: the ideal age of the next Awujale. Some voices insist the throne should go to a younger man—between 45 and 60—arguing that youth offers energy, longevity, and “modern leadership.”

But this argument misses the deeper truth of Ijebu history, cultural logic, and spiritual tradition. And perhaps more importantly, it ignores the very precedent set by the late Awujale, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, whose own ascension remains one of the most defining moments in Ijebu kingship.

This feature explores why age, in fact, should not be a determinant in selecting the next Awujale — especially when the process involves Ifá divination, lineage rotation, and historical lessons.

Those calling for a “younger Awujale” often overlook how Ifa works. Ifa — the ancient spiritual adjudicator in Yoruba monarchy — does not select based on human preferences such as age, wealth, popularity, or physical appearance.

If called upon, Ifa can choose a 10-year-old or a 90-year-old, because divinity focuses on destiny (ayanmo), not earthly expectations.

If age becomes a mandatory criterion, then the moral basis for invoking Ifa collapses. We cannot call upon the oracle while simultaneously dictating what outcome we want. Ifa is not a political party primary — it is an appeal to divine justice.Another argument claims that choosing a younger monarch guarantees a longer reign: Well, history does not agree and I beg to disagree because a  healthy 75-year-old can live 20 more years, while a 45-year-old may not. Longevity is not linear — it is destiny-driven. Yoruba cosmology strongly believes in Ayanmo, and even modern medicine confirms that lifespan is a complex interplay of factors. Using age as a yardstick for kingship is both unfounded and un-Ijebu.

Those who argue that the next Awujale must be young often cite Oba Sikiru Adetona, who ascended the throne at age 26 and reigned for 64 years ignore the real story which is much more complex — and far more relevant today.

Oba Adetona was NOT the candidate originally chosen by Ifa.

Historical accounts within the royal circles indicate that the Ifá oracle selected his father — Prince Rufai Adetona, but the elders of the ruling house, facing the realities of the late colonial and early independence years, were determined that Ijebuland needed an educated monarch who could negotiate confidently with colonial administrators and the emerging Nigerian government. As a result Prince Rufai felt he was too old and that modern governance required youth and education. So he receded the throne to his son — a bold, strategic, and visionary decision. The preference was not for youth alone; it was for education, intellect, and modern exposure.

Today, Ijebuland is no longer under colonial pressure. The needs of the throne have evolved. The lesson is not that the monarch must be young, but that the monarch must be truly fit for the challenges of the time.

The fixation on age today seems driven by personal preferences, political biases, assumptions about longevity, and the misconception that youth equals modernization. Yet the Awujale stool is not a civil service position. It is a spiritual, cultural, and dynastic institution. The right question is not: “How old is he?” but: “Is he destined, prepared, and qualified?”

From cultural, historical, and spiritual perspectives, the qualities that matter are: Lineage legitimacy in full compliance with the 1957 Western Region Chieftaincy Declaration; Ifa validation (if invoked) Destiny over demographics; Character which is temperament, wisdom, humility, and integrity; Cultural knowledge; the understanding of Ijebu institutions, regberegbe, rituals, and palace administration; Modern competence: Education, exposure, administrative capacity, community service, and vision. These are  timeless criteria — and they do not discriminate by age.

In the coming weeks, as the Fusengbuwa ruling house streamlines its process, Ijebuland must avoid reducing a sacred selection into a generational argument. Age did not determine the rise of Oba Adetona. Destiny, wisdom, and strategic reasoning did. If age was not the basis in 1960, it should not become a basis in 2025. The Awujale crown belongs to the right person, not the youngest or the oldest.

In the end, Ijebu history teaches one timeless truth:

 Oba kii se nkan eniyan n pin — kingship is not a human lottery.

It is where destiny, tradition, and wisdom meet.