Cracks in royal family over declaration of KWAM 1 for Awujale stool

By Bose Adelaja

CITIZENS COMPASS— There are indications that the ongoing process to install the new Awujale of Ijebu land in Ogun State, may be marred with misconducts as some unqualified candidates are ready to buy their way to the throne. Citizens Compass can authoritatively report.

As at Saturday, Citizens Compass was reliably informed that the selection process to this sacred stool in Ogun State was being dictated by the high and mighty ones in the society as against the olden days process where the Oracle would be given the honour to make the right choice.

From the onset, the ruling houses in Ijubu-Ode are the Fusengbuwas, Fidipotes, Gbelegbuwas and Anikinaya Ruling houses as the Obaship process is turn-by-turn.

The immediate past Awujale, Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna from the Anikinaiya Ruling House ascended the throne of his forefathers on April 2, 1960 and joined his ancestors on July 13, 2025 and his demise automatically paved way for the selection process of a new king.

According to the tradition, Fusengbuwa Ruling House is expected to produce the next monarch and all candidates that applied for the Obaship process have been screened and were being prepared for the next phase of the tradition when suddenly a popular musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate from the Fidipote Ruling House indicated interest in the Obaship.

It was gathered that the sudden declaration by Wasiu Ayinde has caused confusion among members of the ruling house as only few members are in support of his candidature.

Sources within the ruling house said Wasiu Ayinde was being imposed on other members by a handful of the ruling house.

A source told Citizens Compass that out of about 200 members of the ruling house, less than 10 members were in support of Wasiu Ayinde.

The source said the musician might have bought his way into the heart of the kingmakers citing his vague qualifications.

As of 4p.m on Saturday, it was learnt that an emergency meeting of the ruling house was summoned which ended in confusion over Ayinde’s matter.

Some popular figures in the royal house were said to have kicked against Wasiu Ayinde’s candidature and this has been attracting reactions from many indigenes of Ijebu-Ode.

One of the indigenes, Omoba Olulaja Odumosu wrote, “Who May Concern should please Appeal to Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Kwam 1 to Stay away from Fusengbuwa Ruling House Family Because He is not Part of Us. From Omoba Olulaja Odumosu “

A legal practitioner, Deji Enisenyin Esq., wrote a piece titled, “Interesting times ahead 😉”

It reads: This is one of the things that make our society. African man’s inability to adhere to basic principles of life.

In the year 2023, the late Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona communicated a letter dated 5th July, 2023 to Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe, intimating him of the desire to installed as the ” Olori Omoba Akile -Ijebu”.

In the letter under reference, late Awujale considered Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe “to be from Fidipote Ruling house where candidate for the office is presently expected to come emerge”

It is based on the communication that Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe accepted and subsequently conferred with the chieftaincy title of Olori Omoba Akile -Ijebu.

There is nothing indicating from Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe that he is from Fusengbuwa Ruling house.

By the Chief law 1957, the customary law regulating the selection of Awujale of Ijebuland chieftaincy; there are four ruling houses recognized to ascend to the throne of Awujale. The ascension is on a rotational basis. The order of rotation is as follows:

1) Gbelegbuwa Ruling house

2)Anikinaiya Ruling house (where Oba Sikiru Adetona came from)

3) Fusengbuwa Ruling house

4) Fidipote Ruling house.

From the above, it is clear that Fusengbuwa Ruling house is distinct and separate from Fidipote Ruling house.

It is via a letter dated 3rd December,2025 two years after being installed as the Olori Omoba Akile -Ijebu on the basis that it is the turn of a candidate from Fidipote Ruling house to fill in the vacancy after the demise of the last holder, that Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe has considered it necessary to state that he is from Fusengbuwa Ruling house.

According to Chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe in the letter of 3rd December,2025, addressed to the chairman of Fusengbuwa Ruling house, he is from Fusengbuwa Ruling house and has now expressed his “intention to be considered for the vacant stool of Awujale Ijebuland, subject strictly to the Ijebuland customary law and the Ogun State chieftaincy law”

In the letter of 3rd December,2025, chief Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde Anifowoshe referred to the customary law of Ijebu, while leaving out the customary law regulating the selection of the Awujale of Ijebuland. The customary law of Ijebu and the customary law regulating the selection of the Awujale of Ijebuland are two separate laws. At a relevant time, the two will be explained in detail.

It cannot be explained here whether it is one of mischief or ignorance that has occasioned the inclusion and or omission.

Indeed interesting times ahead….. I obviously see litigation ahead 😉

Deji Enisenyin Esq.

In a piece titled, “Ijebu, E Ronu,” (Ijebu Think), Babatunde Emilola Gazal wrote:

Although the lyrics in this song by the late Iconic Baba Hubert Ogunde were meant for the entire Yoruba nation, it totally suits the situation in Ijebu-Ode today, where the race for the most coveted stool of Awujale of Ijabuland is on.

It is not unusual for people to show interest in a position, what is shocking and disappointing is the attempt by those who should keep the cultural heritage of Ijebu and the sanity of the Awujale stool to subvert the process, shortchanged Ijebu and impose very unqualified and unsuitable aspirants on Ijebu-Ode and the Ijebu nation.

Spurred by some elderly people, I once asked the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, if he could chose a successor while still alive. I went further to suggest that he could confide in members of the Osugbo fraternity who his choice is.

He told me pointedly that the Osugbo clan has nothing to do with the selection of an Awujale, that they are like ‘Court Bailiffs’. Kabiyesi went further to tell me that his concern was that the process will be bastardised with money, because most of the aspirant will be after the hefty financial chest he has built for the palace and Ijebu Traditional Council. This is what he referred to at Ojude Oba 2019 in what looked like a farewell speech, when he warned that his successor should not be picked based on financial consideration .

How prophetic.

I am aware that Oba Adetona shared this thought on a successor wih a few elderly people. One of them, who is one of the 13 kingmakers, shared this with me, then. It is none of the braggarts and money bags gallivanting the Ijebu landscape now.

As Baba Ogunde sang, Ijebu-Ode people, especially the leadership and entire membership of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, should ‘Ronu’ and not make us a laughing stock before the whole world.

We deserve an Awujale who will command the respect and support of the Ijebu nation and the entire world. Such a person must be above board in all ramifications; scandal-free, unassailable integrity, proven track record of personal and professional accomplishments and, above all, visible proofs of being Ijebu-centric, his contributions to Ijebu-Ode and Ijebuland. That is the least we can do to sustain the positive legacies of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adtona, Ogbagba II.

—Babatunde Emilola Gazal

Meanwhile, the musician declared his interest to the Awujale stool yesterday.

In a letter dated December 3, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, Ayinde, said that his interest was guided strictly by Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.