CITIZENS COMPASS— Following the alleged attempt to impose a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland in Ogun State, members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on Friday, staged a peaceful protest against such attempt.
The Ruling House staged the protests across parts of the town.
Citizens Compass reported that traditionalists in the ancient town rained curses on politicians attempting to impose a candidate as the state government has on two occasions suspended the process to fill the vacant stool.
Recall that the state government in a statement on Wednesday, suspended the ongoing selection process.
The statement was signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ganiyu Hamzat.
It cited petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders being the reason for the suspension which generated insinuations about possible imposition by the state government although the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has debunked this.
The Friday protest stood against any attempt to impose the candidate.
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Fusengbuwa says no to imposition,” “Let Ifa oracle determine the next Awujale,” and “Allow the kingmakers to do their job,” marched peacefully from Odo Egbo Roundabout through the Awujale Palace/Itale Road to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat, Itooro where the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Mr Dare Alebiosu, addressed them.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs Adejugba Obileye who is also the Aremobinrin Jadiara, said the demonstration was to warn against any form of imposition and to demand the reopening of the Awujale Palace.
According to her, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the kingmakers were already carrying out their traditional and legal responsibilities before the state government suspended the process which was in line with extant laws to select a worthy successor.
“The Awujale stool is sacred and must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics or pecuniary interests.
“We are here to register our displeasure over the closure of the palace and the alleged plan to impose a candidate on Fusengbuwa ruling house. We reject any form of imposition in the selection of the next Awujale.
“We do not want a political Awujale. Our kingdom has a rich cultural heritage that must not be bastardised. We have Ifa oracle in our family, and that is the traditional means of determining the right candidate. No foreigner should be imposed on us.”
Another member of the ruling house, Mr Olubunmi Adesanya, also appealed to the government to allow the kingmakers and the Ifa oracle to perform their traditional roles without interference.
“We are pleading with the government not to impose the next Awujale on us. We reject imposition in all forms,” he said.
Also speaking, High Chief Adekunle Talabi, the Obajelu, Olumoko of Imoko and a priest of the Agemo masquerade, said, “The traditionalists are not happy with the rumoured plan to impose a candidate. The government should allow the ruling house and the kingmakers to choose the next Awujale as laid down by tradition,” he said.
Responding, the Local Government Chairman, Mr Dare Alebiosu, dismissed the allegation of an attempt to impose a candidate.
He said that the Awujale Palace had been reopened since Thursday and promised to convey their concerns to the state government.
“There is nothing like imposition by the government. The selection of the Awujale is the responsibility of the kingmakers, and the government will not interfere. I urge you to remain peaceful and not allow hoodlums to hijack this protest,”
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is the next to fill the vacant stool which is turn by turn among four recognised ruling houses in Ijebu-Ode.
The four recognised ruling houses in Ijebu-Ode.
They are Gbelegbuwa, Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa, and Fidipote who were established under the Chiefs Law of 1957, These houses are responsible for producing the Awujale of Ijebuland, with succession traditionally rotating among them based on male lineage.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed on at the age of 91 after a remarkable 65-year reign.
