The Fusengbuwa Royal Ruling House has cautioned against political interference, financial inducement or intimidation in the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland, insisting that the revered stool must be filled strictly in accordance with tradition and established customs.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, the spokesman of the ruling house, Prince Tunde Ogidan, described the Awujale stool as a sacred institution whose succession process must not be compromised.
“The Awujale stool is a sacred traditional institution, and its selection must be guided strictly by customs and traditions handed down over generations.
No amount of inducement or pressure should influence the emergence of the next Awujale of Ijebuland,” Ogidan said.
He attributed the tension and protests surrounding the succession process to misinformation and a lack of understanding of how the process works, noting that the royal family initially chose to remain silent.
“There is a lot of misinformation and lack of information. For many of those protesting, it is simply a lack of understanding.
The royal family deliberately kept quiet at first to observe how events would unfold,” he explained.
Addressing concerns over the large number of aspirants—estimated at between 95 and 100—Ogidan said the long gap since the Fusengbuwa ruling house last produced an Awujale had led to an expanded family tree.
“One hundred years is a very long time. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have emerged over the years, and that explains why we have many eligible candidates today,” he said.
Ogidan clarified that the screening of aspirants was carried out strictly by the royal family in line with the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, stressing that the kingmakers were not involved at that stage.
“All documents submitted by aspirants were screened by the family.
They were sealed in the presence of the DSS and the police and taken directly to the palace, where they were handed over to the Afobajes, the kingmakers,” he stated.
He dismissed claims of division within the Fusengbuwa family, saying earlier disagreements had been resolved.
“Initially, we had three factions, but we have since come together.
There is no faction anymore; we are one family,” Ogidan said.
On allegations that aspirants were asked to pay ₦10 million, Ogidan acknowledged that contributions were initially discussed to cover logistics but said the decision was later reversed.
“Those payments were never a condition for participation.
Everyone who paid was refunded, and this can be verified,” he said.
While condemning bribery and inducement, he distinguished such acts from culturally acceptable gestures.
“We reject bribery and inducement completely.
However, in our culture, visiting an elder with a gift is not unusual. What we oppose is anything intended to influence the process,” he noted.
Ogidan also criticised the reported closure of the palace, describing it as a violation of Ijebu tradition.
“Locking the palace gate is an abomination.
The palace is like a marketplace, and shutting it denies the people access,” he said.
Responding to claims by some aspirants that their names were omitted from the list, he said documentation would determine eligibility, adding that spelling errors or name variations could be corrected during interviews.
He emphasised that no candidate could be imposed, noting that the selection process involves interviews, traditional rites and legal confirmation by the government.
“No individual or group can impose a candidate.
The process includes interviews, traditional requirements and legal confirmation by the government,” Ogidan said.
He, therefore, urged the Ogun State Government to allow the kingmakers to perform their duties without interference, expressing confidence that adherence to due process would ensure a peaceful and legitimate transition.
