By Peace Udugba
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode has raised fresh concerns over the prolonged delay in the selection and appointment of a new Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
Speaking with an Eagle 102.5 FM reporter on Saturday, the Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, alleged interference by the Ogun State Government and accused some individuals of attempting to disrupt the established structure of the ruling house.
Owoyemi also declared as “void” a press conference scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2026, which he said was intended to announce the emergence of another Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and challenge the existing family structure.
He maintained that, as the recognised head of the ruling house, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had completed its internal selection process in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law.
According to him, the ruling house was given 14 days to complete its internal nomination process but concluded the exercise within 10 days before submitting the required documents and names of its candidates to the Awujale kingmakers.
Owoyemi said the kingmakers were expected to complete their stage of the process within seven days and present a single candidate to the Ogun State Governor for approval and enthronement.
He questioned the continued delay, alleging that the process had been disrupted by interference and petitions which, he said, were not made available to the ruling house.
The Olori Ebi further alleged that some individuals were being encouraged by persons within the Ogun State Government structure to initiate a parallel process that could undermine the authority of the ruling house.
He consequently maintained that any meeting, decision or announcement purporting to select another candidate outside the process already completed by the ruling house would be invalid.
The development comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over the process for selecting the next Awujale.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode in Suit No. HCJ/149/2026, seeking orders compelling the Governor, the kingmakers and other parties to conclude the selection process.
The matter was adjourned to September 23, 2026, following the return of the case by a vacation judge to the administrative judge for reassignment.
In a related development, the leadership of the ruling house filed another suit on September 16, 2026, against members of the family over alleged attempts to parade themselves as leaders or interfere with the established leadership structure.
The second case is numbered HCJ/167/2026.
The ruling house has maintained that it completed its part of the selection process within the stipulated period, while alleging that the subsequent stage was halted following petitions and security reports that were not made available to it.
The Awujale stool has remained vacant since the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025, after 65 years on the throne.
The latest development is expected to add to the ongoing legal and traditional disputes surrounding the process and authority for determining the next occupant of the Awujale stool.
