Members of the Fusengbuwa ruling house in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Friday staged a peaceful protest to oppose an alleged attempt to impose a candidate in the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Fusengbuwa is one of the four ruling houses in Ijebu Ode and is next in line to produce the Awujale following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July last year. The late monarch, who died at the age of 91, ruled the ancient kingdom for 65 years.
The protesters, drawn from the ruling house, marched through major streets of Ijebu Ode, carrying 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.”
The procession began at Odo Egbo Roundabout and moved through the Awujale Palace/Itale Road before ending at the Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat in Itooro, where the demonstrators were received by the council chairman, Mr Dare Alebiosu.
Speaking on behalf of the ruling house, Mrs Adejugba Obileye said the protest was organised to express opposition to the closure of the palace and to warn against any attempt by the government to influence the selection of the next Awujale.
Obileye, who is also the Aremobinrin Jadiara, stressed that the Awujale stool is sacred and should not be subjected to political or financial interests. She noted that the ruling house and kingmakers were already following laid-down traditional and legal procedures to select a suitable candidate.
According to her, the Fusengbuwa ruling house rejects any form of imposition and insists that the Ifa oracle and kingmakers should be allowed to determine who emerges as the next Awujale.
Another family member, Mr Olubunmi Adesanya, also appealed to the government to respect tradition and refrain from interfering in the process. He urged that the concerns of the ruling house be communicated to the state government.
Traditional leaders also joined the call. Speaking on behalf of traditionalists, the Obajelu of Imoko and priest of the Agemo masquerade, High Chief Adekunle Talabi, appealed to the Ogun State Government to allow due process and tradition to prevail.
In his response, the Local Government Chairman, Dare Alebiosu, dismissed claims of government interference, stating that the palace had already been reopened. He assured the protesters that their concerns would be conveyed to the state government and urged them to remain peaceful.
Earlier, the Ogun State Government had announced a temporary halt to the Awujale selection process, citing petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. While this move sparked fears of possible imposition, the state government has denied the allegations.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr Kayode Akinmade, described the claims as unfounded, insisting that the government remains committed to due process and the autonomy of traditional institutions.
Similarly, the regent and head of the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee, Dr Sonny Kuku, assured the public that the kingmakers would not tolerate any imposition, adding that extensive screening of candidates was ongoing to ensure the emergence of the most suitable monarch.
