Awujale: Fusengbuwa Ruling House urges Abiodun to end selection deadlock
Fusengbuwa Ruling House has appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently lift the suspension slammed on the selection process of the 60th Awujale of Ijebuland. The stool became vacant on
Fusengbuwa Ruling House has appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently lift the suspension slammed on the selection process of the 60th Awujale of Ijebuland.
The stool became vacant on July 13, 2025 following the transition of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who joined his ancestors at 91 after 65 years reign on the throne.
Bids by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the next in line to produce the next Awujale, to fill the vacant stool, including the nomination of 94 princes and one princess, were mired in setbacks, as the Governor Abiodun-led state government suspended the process in two separate instances, citing procedural error and flood of petitions written against the process.
Addressing reporters on Sunday at the Jadiara Palace Idowa-Ijebu, his country home, the Chairman of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, expressed concern about what he described as an unprecedented delay in filling the revered traditional stool, urging the governor to allow the kingmakers do their job.
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Owoyemi, who addressed the conference that had in attendance key members of the ruling house, including Deputy Chairman of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba and Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Yusuf, noted that before his passing on, the monarch had carefully constituted a trusted group of kingmakers—Afobaje High Chiefs—tasked with the sacred responsibility of selecting his successor, in line with long-standing tradition.
According to him, the chiefs were men of “impeccable integrity”, who had served the throne faithfully for decades.
He recalled that the ruling house, the kingmakers and Ijebu people were in grave shock that the selection process was abruptly halted in January after Ogun State Government ordered the closure of the Awujale Palace and directed kingmakers to suspend proceedings, citing security concerns and allegations of bribery.
The former President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) said the Fusengbuwa Ruling House complied fully with its statutory duty by submitting a list of nominated candidates to the kingmakers, but was shocked by the sudden decision of the state government.
He said despite investigations by security agencies, including the police and Department of State Service (DSS), no evidence has been found to substantiate the claims of misconduct against either the kingmakers or members of the ruling house.
Describing the situation as a “three-month-long injustice,” he accused unnamed individuals of attempting to derail the process through unproven allegations and petitions.
“We hereby make a passionate appeal to Governor Abiodun and his key officials and advisers, to kindly lift the suspension order placed on this 60th Awujale selection process since over three months ago, and please direct the Afobaje Kingmakers to immediately resume, meticulously carry out, and successfully conclude their age long and statutory responsibility of wisely and objectively selecting the next Awujale for Ijebu Ode and Ijebuland without any further delay or intervention.”
