THE hope of Ijebu Ode Descendants that a new Awujale will emerge soon is gradually thinning down owing to the recent development and directive from the state government that the whole process be stopped till further notice.
Earlier, there had been accusations and counter accusations of financial inducement and allegation by one of the aspirants’ who is said to be distributing huge sums of money and brand new vehicles to those concerned.

However, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, has debunked any inference from the state government. Akinmade stated that at no time did the governor interfere with the process.
“No, afobaje will attest to such an occurrence, as it never happened. This is once again the fabrication of falsehoods by mischief makers.”
Akinmade noted that the governor remained committed to upholding due process, respecting the autonomy of traditional institutions, and ensuring a fair process in the selection of a new Awujale for Ijebu.
He further explained that Governor Abiodun’s administration would continue to prioritise dialogue, harmony and the preservation of cultural values.

“We all know how highly the Governor holds the throne of Awujale, which he has consistently demonstrated.”
Recall that after the demise of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the next ruling house, Fusengbuwa, was faced with internal crisis on issue of leadership, and at the time, more than three groupslaid claims to headship of the ruling house.Interestingly, they were able to reconcile and form a front to produce their aspirants and save the ruling house from missing such opportunity.
However, one of the former heads of Fusengbuwa,Dr. Adekunle Hassan, stepped down for the former boss of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Abdullateef Owoyemi, as the new head while paving way for Hassan to contest for the revered position .

The Awujale position became vacant in July 2025 after the demise of Oba Adetona after 65 years of reign. He had warned Ijebus before he died not to allow money bags to take over the revered stool when it was time for a new Awujale to be installed.
Consequently, kingmakers and ruling houses have vowed to follow the laid down rules and customs of Ijebu in carrying out their duties .
Regrettably, barely six months after, internal wrangling, marked by accusation of car gift and financial inducement have stalled the process of appointing the next Awujale.

At first, Ijebu-Ode local council boss, Hon.Dare Alebiosu, gave the family the nod to commence the process of nomination of candidates into the vacant stool and within 14days window period provided by law and the family began the process, mid way the state government halted the process saying that the initial go ahead from the local government authority does not follow the 2021 Obas and chiefs law and the gazetted 1957 Chieftaincy declaration of the Awujale stool.
The government, thereafter, ordered that a fresh process to begin. Unexpectedly, the ruling house followed the government directive by calling for the nomination of the aspirants for the vacant position of the Awujale of Ijebuland.
More than 90 aspirants were nominated from the ruling house, and before the process could end,drama ensued as one of the ruling houses, which was denied access into the venue of the nomination, protested their exclusion and total disenfranchise from the process .

The ruling house, while responding to that, said the one the families went ahead to sign a form for the fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, who they said was not part of their family .
Recall that Ayinde, had earlier expressed concern over perceived moves by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to exclude him from the nomination process. He alleged that the house, which is next in line to produce the next Awujale, has been taking decisions that run contrary to the laid down rule.
In a letter written to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, KWAM 1 who is said to be of the Fidipote Ruling House claimed that the Fusengbuwa House was sidelining him from the ongoing selection process for the next Awujale.
This is as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House resumed the nomination process after an initial halt to the process by the government.

Scores of princes were said to have indicated their intentions to succeed the last Awujale, late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who joined his ancestors at 91 on July 13, 2025 after 65 years reign on the throne.
KWAM1’s allegations of being excluded were contained in a letter dated January 8, 2026, sent to Governor Abiodun by the musician’s lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN.
Earlier, he had approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu Ode seeking an interim injunction to restrain Governor Abiodun and six others from proceeding with the selection process, but the court declined the request.The musician eventually withdrew the suit without providing explanations.
However, in a recent letter to the governor, he recalled that the Ijebu Ode Local Government, had through a letter dated January 6, 2026, from its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, granted the Fusengbuwa Ruling House the approval to commence the nomination process and conclude it within 14 days starting from January 6.

He said he was surprised to know that while family members were preparing for the meeting, one Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, the family’s Public Relations Officer, issued a notice directing candidates to collect nomination cards and appear before a screening committee.
KWAM1 noted that the directive scheduled the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026.
The letter read, “it is a matter of deep concern to our client that all these directives, which contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, Obas and Chiefs Law, and the letter from the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, were included in the family’s letter dated January 6, 2026.”
Sadly, barely two weeks after the exercise, the state government issued a directive halting the process, citing stakeholders and security agencies’ procedural flaws and asked both the kingmakers and the ruling house to wait for further directive on the issue of selection of the new Awujale .