The Grand Council of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Ijebu-Ode, has rejected the purported removal of its Chairman and Olori-Ebi, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, describing the meeting at which the decision was allegedly taken as unauthorised.

The council also passed a vote of confidence in Owoyemi, his deputy, Otunba Oladokun Ajidagba, and Vice-Chairman, Prof. Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, amid an ongoing dispute over the leadership of the ruling house and the process for selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Speaking against the back drop of purported removal in Ijebu-Ode yesterday, Owoyemi said the authentic leadership of the ruling house had decided to speak out following what he described as the activities of “disgruntled elements” who purportedly removed the three principal officers at a meeting held on Sunday, August 9.

He alleged that the group, which he said included Adeleke Adeyemi, Muyiwa Adeleye, Ridwan Oduneye and Olusegun Olusoga, had no mandate to convene such a meeting or constitute a fact-finding committee.

Owoyemi explained that the present leadership structure emerged after the Ogun State Government intervened in previous divisions within the ruling house.

According to him, representatives of the three factions were brought together, with four delegates from each faction forming a 12-member delegation to the state government.

He noted that the delegates were subsequently constituted into a management committee, while three additional members were later co-opted, bringing the Grand Council to 15 members.

He said the arrangement produced him as Chairman/Olori-Ebi, Ajidagba as Deputy Chairman/Igbakeji Olori-Ebi and Yusuf as Vice-Chairman/Eta Olori-Ebi, alongside other officers.

Owoyemi maintained that none of those who purportedly removed the leadership was a member of the Grand Council and, therefore, could not validly, convene a meeting or set up a committee on behalf of the ruling house.

He further alleged that the activities of the group could undermine the ruling house and its entitlement to participate in the process of selecting the next Awujale.

“We have thoroughly investigated the activities of these people and we are convinced that they are acting out a script that, if not challenged, would have a devastating effect on the family,” he said.

Owoyemi added that members of the leadership were pursuing legal action over what he described as defamatory statements and other allegations made against them.

The Grand Council subsequently declared those involved in the purported action and members of the fact-finding committee as “enemies of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House”, while urging the government and members of the public to disregard resolutions or allegations emanating from them.

The council also appealed to the media to verify allegations before publication, particularly those capable of damaging the reputation of the ruling house and its members.

Owoyemi explained that the leadership had engaged with members of a purported fact-finding committee and provided answers to their questions, but alleged that the committee had reached conclusions before completing its engagement with the leadership.

Also speaking at the event, Vice-Chairman of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf challenged the basis of some of the allegations against the leadership, insisting that no individual or organisation could pronounce anyone guilty of a criminal offence without a decision of a competent court.

He also defended the nomination process conducted by the ruling house, saying it had been sufficiently broad to accommodate members through representatives because of the large population of the family.

Yusuf said the process had produced candidates for the Awujale stool despite fears in some quarters that disagreements within the ruling house could prevent a successful nomination.

According to him, no formal petition had been received from any of the nominated candidates alleging that members of the leadership demanded money from them during the process.

“Not a single petition,” he said, adding that neither he nor the chairman had received a formal complaint concerning the nomination exercise.

Yusuf also alleged that individuals who were opposed to the leadership were attempting to create divisions within the ruling house and derail the process.

On the role of the Ogun State Government, Yusuf said the leadership had written to the government seeking an expedited conclusion of the process and urging it to lift what he described as an embargo on the activities.

He argued that the government should allow the process to proceed in accordance with the applicable chieftaincy laws.

“We have done our own bit. We are just waiting for our Obajeya to do their own job, or to complete their assignment, and then forward their recommendation to the Ogun State Government,” he said.

Yusuf urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the process was concluded without further delay, warning that prolonged disputes could create room for fresh disagreements.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of the ongoing process for the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland following the demise of the previous monarch.

The leadership also said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of the ruling house and ensuring that the succession process was concluded in accordance with the applicable laws and established procedures.