Traditionalists and hundreds of members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebuland on Friday staged a protest over an alleged attempt by powerful interests to impose the next Awujale on the kingmakers, the Fusengbuwa family, and the broader Ijebu nation.
The protesters converged at the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Archway before marching to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Headquarters in Itooro, displaying placards with various inscriptions condemning what they described as undue interference in the traditional selection process.
The Awujale stool became vacant on July 13, 2025, following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.
Fusengbuwa is next in line to produce the new Awujale.
However, The Nation reports that the Ogun State Government, in a circular dated January 20, 2026, directed kingmakers to suspend further steps in selecting a candidate from the 95 nominees earlier submitted by leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, including Otunba Lateef Owoyemi (Olori Ebi), Prince Adedokun Ajidagba (Deputy Olori Ebi), and Professor Fassy Yusuf (Vice Chairman).
The directive, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, has heightened allegations that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun is attempting to influence the succession process.
The state government has, however, denied any intention to impose a candidate.
Unconvinced by the government’s explanation for halting the process, members of the Fusengbuwa royal family and supporting traditionalists marched through Odo-Egbo, Itale, and Palace Road before ending the peaceful protest at the Itooro Local Government Headquarters, where they were received by the council chairman, Dare Alebiosu.
Some of their placards read, “Fusengbuwa say no to imposition. Let Ifa oracle determine the next Awujale,” and “Let the kingmakers do their job, we say no to imposition.”
Mrs Adejugba Obileye, who led the protest, said that they elected to storm the local government and register their displeasure over the alleged plot by the state government to hijack the process and impose a candidate on the kingmakers.
Speaking on behalf of the family, she called for the opening of the palace and urged the government to steer away from any imposition plot.
Obileye, who is also the Aremobinrin Jadiara, a unit of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, said that the Fusengbuwa is the next in line to fill the vacant Awujale’s stool, wondering why the selection process was put in abeyance for the second time within a month when the kingmakers were already doing what was expected of them traditionally and in line with the extant laws.
She cautioned that the stool of Awujale is sacred and not to be sacrificed on the altar of politics or any pecuniary gains.
Obileye said, “We are at the Ijebu Ode Local Government secretariat to register our displeasure over the closure of the palace and the alleged plan to impose on us the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
“We are here to say that the Fusengbuwa ruling house is saying no and rejects any plan of imposition for the ongoing selection process of Awujale. The Awujale stool is sacred; it is not to be filled as a result of one political consideration or another.
“We don’t want political Awujale. The Ijebu kingdom has a rich cultural heritage that should not be bastardized by anyone. We have an Ifa oracle in our family, so the government should allow the Ifa oracle to pick the right candidate for us and not just impose anyone; they should not impose any foreigner on us.
“The government should desist from any planned imposition. They should allow the kingmakers to do their job; we are not fighting with the government, but they should not interfere unnecessarily in the ongoing selection process of the new Awujale.”
Also speaking, Olubunmi Adesanya, another member of the ruling house, also called on the government not to impose the next Awujale on the family, but rather allow Ifa oracle and the kingmakers do their job.
Adesanya said, “We are here to plead with the government not to impose the next Awujale on us. The government should allow the kingmakers to do their job; they should allow the Ifa oracle to pick the next Awujale for us. We reject imposition in all ways, and we plead with our chairman to help us convey our request to the government.”
Also speaking on behalf of the traditionalists, High Chief Adekunle Talabi, the Obajelu, Olumoko of Imoko, a priest of the Agemo masquerade, also urged the government to distance itself from the alleged imposition plan.
High Chief Talabi explained that “I just want to urge our governor to allow the right thing to be done, there should be nothing like imposition, it is not acceptable. The government should allow the ruling house, the Fusengbuwa, and the kingmakers to pick the next Awujale.
“The traditionalists are also not happy with the rumoured plan by the government to impose a candidate; we beg the government to shelve this plan and let things be done as it is laid down from time immemorial.”
However, addressing the protesters, the Chairman of the local government, Dare Alebiosu, refuted the alleged plan by the government to foist a candidate on the kingmakers or the Fusengbuwa family.
“The palace has since been opened, I am aware of what. However, on the alleged imposition plan by the government, I want to assure you that there is nothing like that, but I will certainly convey your request to the seat of authority in Abeokuta.
“The government is not interested in interfering with the selection of the next Awujale; that is the job for the kingmakers to do, and the government will certainly not hinder them from doing their jobs.
“However, I want to urge you to go back home and not allow your peaceful protest to be hijacked by the hoodlums. I have heard your request, and I will certainly ensure that the governor gets to hear of your concerns,” he said.
