Awujale: Shehu Sani Urges End to Fetish Practices in Traditional Royal Successions

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has called for the complete abolition of fetish and archaic practices associated with traditional royal successions across Nigeria.

Sani, known for his vocal stance on human rights and societal reform, expressed concern over certain cultural rites still observed in parts of the country, especially during the transition of traditional leadership. He shared his views in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

“I’m delighted to see that many traditional institutions in this country are dropping the fetish practices associated with royal succession when their Kings or Chiefs die,” Sani wrote.

Highlighting a particularly disturbing example, he added: “There is a community in the central part of this country where the new monarch has to ‘eat the Heart’ of the late Monarch before ascending the throne. I hope they have stopped. We must separate our culture from barbarity.”

His comments come amid growing public discourse on reforming traditional rites, especially those deemed incompatible with modern values and human dignity.

In a related development, Daily Post earlier reported that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, expressed satisfaction over the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, in accordance with Islamic rites.

Oba Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday, was buried the following day at his residence in Ijebu Ode. The burial was conducted by Muslim clerics under heavy security, which prevented members of traditional cult groups, including the Osugbo, from taking part in the funeral.

The incident has sparked renewed debate over the clash between modern religious practices and ancient traditional customs in royal institutions.