The Struggle for the Awujale Throne in Ijebu Ode
The head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu Ode, Abdulateef Owoyemi, has recently called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to lift the embargo on the Awujale selection process. Owoyemi, a former national president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, emphasized that the royal family and the people of Ijebu land are frustrated by the indefinite suspension of the selection process by the government.
Owoyemi stated that the royal family and the sons and daughters of Ijebu land, both locally and in the diaspora, have been waiting for the selection of the new Awujale. He acknowledged the governor’s support but urged that “no distraction” should prevent the selection of the new Awujale. Ramadan has begun, and after that, the annual Ojude Oba during Eid-el-Kabir will be held, which is a gathering of significant religious and cultural importance.
Owoyemi expressed concern over the lack of guidance for preparations, stating that everyone, both at home and in the diaspora, is waiting for the new Awujale to be installed. He mentioned receiving daily calls from family members who want to know what is happening, but he has no information to share.
The family head described the kingmakers as “men of integrity, people of character who will not sell the Awujale’s throne for anything.” He pleaded with the government to lift the suspension and allow the process to be completed on time. The people are expectant, and they want the new Awujale as soon as possible. This process must be completed, and someone must emerge.
Government Suspension and Rumors
The state government had halted the selection process for the second time last month. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, explained that the suspension followed a flood of petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. On Saturday, the government debunked the rumor that it had endorsed the choice of one Ademorin Aliu Kuye as the new Awujale after his purported selection by the Ifa oracle.
In a statement by Hamzat, the government maintained that the selection process to fill the vacant stool of Awujale remained suspended as announced last month due to a plethora of petitions received over the selection process. The government wished to categorically state that it is not involved in, nor has it endorsed, any such claim. The process for the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland is guided strictly by the applicable laws, established procedures, and recognized traditional customs.
The Vacant Awujale Stool
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years. During a recent nomination meeting at Bisrod Hall, GRA Ijebu Ode, 95 candidates, including 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house, were nominated. The kingmakers, led by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr Sunny Kuku, were about to begin the selection process when it was halted.
Denial of Awujale-elect Claims
Ademorin Aliu Kuye, a member representing Somolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives and one of the contestants for the vacant Awujale stool, denied ever presenting himself as the Awujale-elect. Kuye stated that he was never desperate to become the next Awujale and emphasized that, as a federal lawmaker and lawyer of 37 years, he would never engage in acts that contravened existing laws.
He also distanced himself from a viral song reportedly produced by a female waka singer praising him as the Awujale-elect, saying he believed the song was created by detractors to tarnish his reputation. Kuye spoke while responding to allegations made by the princes and princesses of the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode.
In a statement signed by Kunle Johnson Adebajo, the royal family accused Kuye of parading himself as the Awujale-elect and of commissioning a song in his praise. The family claimed that Kuye’s actions are illegal and capable of causing chaos and unrest in Ijebuland. They further stated that his claim of being the Awujale-elect borders on pretence to a stool he has not been selected for.
Kuye, in a phone interview with our correspondent, maintained that the allegations were baseless and reiterated his commitment to lawful conduct. He explained that he has never been involved in any of their allegations and that he is part of the princes and princesses of the Fusengbuwa ruling house. He also mentioned that his family has issued a statement supporting the position of the state government on this matter.
On the viral song, Kuye said: “I don’t know about the production of any song. I know that this could be the handiwork of my opponent because I never commissioned anybody to do that song.” He further highlighted his public service record, stating that he is a lawmaker and a lawyer of 37 years with a long history of service.
