The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has reaffirmed its determination to produce the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, insisting that its legitimate opportunity to fill the vacant traditional stool must not be denied.
The Punch reported that the ruling house made its position known on Saturday following an enlarged meeting of its princes and princesses held at Ile Nla (Agunsebi), Ijebu-Ode.
The meeting was convened to review developments surrounding the delayed selection of a successor to the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona. It was co-chaired by the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi; his deputy, Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba; and the Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Yusuf.
Members from different branches of the ruling house were briefed on the latest developments concerning the succession process, including the legal action instituted by the family to challenge the delay.
The gathering also reviewed the suit filed against Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, nine members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council and other defendants. The ruling house is seeking court orders compelling the defendants to complete the process for selecting the next monarch.
At the conclusion of the meeting, members endorsed the decisions already taken by the ruling house leadership and expressed confidence in its handling of the succession matter.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, Owoyemi said the meeting was organised primarily to keep members informed about the stalled process and the measures being taken by the leadership to safeguard the interests of the family.
“The meeting was called to update and brief members of Fusengbuwa Ruling House about the stalled selection process for the next Awujale and the steps we have taken to address the issue. The large attendance is an attestation of unity. The house is united. Princes and princesses came from Lagos and other places. They supported our decision, and they have confidence in our leadership and the things we are doing.”
Owoyemi further alleged that certain individuals were attempting to frustrate the ruling house from exercising its right to produce the next Awujale.
“Our enemies are those who want to spoil things so that they will come back to say our ruling house cannot produce the next Awujale again,” he said.
The ruling house maintained that its court action was not intended to disrupt the traditional succession process but to ensure that the established procedure was completed and that Fusengbuwa was allowed to exercise what it considers its rightful turn.
The family had earlier instituted suit number HCJ/149/2026 at the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode against Governor Abiodun, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, the Ogun State Executive Council, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and the Secretary of the local government.
Also joined as defendants were members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council, including Olorogun Sonny Kuku, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso, Chief Jimi Lawal, Chief Abimbola Okenla, Chief Kunle Ogunade, Chief Agboola Alausa, Chief Adebisi Adaran and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja.
Among other reliefs, the claimants are asking the court to determine whether the state government had the legal authority to order or facilitate the entry into and locking of the Awujale Palace on January 20, 2026, which they said prevented the kingmakers from meeting and completing the statutory selection process.
They are also asking the court to determine whether the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law 2021 permits the government to suspend or stop the nomination and selection of an Awujale.
The ruling house further wants the court to affirm that it had fulfilled its statutory obligation after convening its meeting and completing its internal nomination exercise within the period stipulated under Section 16 of the law.
Meanwhile, Justice A. A. Omoniyi of Court 3 of the Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Ode, on Wednesday returned the suit to the administrative judge for reassignment.
The vacation judge explained that he would proceed on his annual vacation within a week and might not resume until January 2027.
Although he acknowledged the urgency of the case, he said the limited time before his vacation prevented him from proceeding with the matter.
The position of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House comes against the backdrop of the prolonged vacancy created by the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July 2025 at the age of 91. The late monarch spent 65 years on the throne.
The Ogun State Government suspended the selection exercise in January 2026, citing petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders.
This followed an earlier suspension of the process in December 2025 over concerns about procedural issues.
Before the process was halted, 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, had reportedly emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House’s nomination exercise conducted in Ijebu-Ode in December.
