Awujale: Ogun steps in as 60 candidates express interest
Why Fusengbuwa Ruling House Postponed Awujale Nomination Meeting as 60 Princes Emerge
Fresh details have emerged explaining why the highly anticipated nomination meeting for the vacant Awujale stool and paramount ruler of Ijebu land was postponed by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
Findings by www.cjsoftflix.com revealed that the postponement followed an intervention by the Ogun State Government aimed at preventing procedural lapses that could result in prolonged litigation and controversy.
It was also gathered that the race to succeed the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona has attracted massive interest, with not fewer than 60 princes currently aspiring to become the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Background to the Postponed Nomination Meeting
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which is next in line to produce the Awujale following the death of the revered monarch in July 2025 at the age of 91, had earlier announced that its nomination meeting would hold on Monday.
The announcement was contained in a letter dated December 11, 2025, signed by the family’s spokesman, Abiodun Ogidan, stating that the exercise would take place at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu-Ode.
The ruling house also outlined strict protocols for the process, noting that only accredited family members would be allowed into the venue.
- Each aspirant was to be represented by two family members
- One representative would nominate the aspirant
- The second would second the nomination
- Aspirants themselves were barred from attending
Family members and accredited representatives were equally urged to maintain peace, orderliness, and respect, in line with the sacred nature of the process.
Ruling House Announces Postponement
However, in a statement issued on Friday by the nomination committee, the ruling house announced the postponement of the meeting, citing circumstances beyond its control.
“Due to circumstances beyond the family’s control, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House Awujale Nomination Meeting scheduled for Monday, 15th December 2025, has been postponed. The new date will be announced shortly. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” the statement read.
State Government Intervention Explained
Speaking exclusively with www.cjsoftflix.com on Sunday, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, clarified that the postponement followed a summons from the state government.
Owoyemi explained that the government scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to review the process so far and ensure full compliance with existing laws guiding traditional rulership succession.
“The postponement of the nomination meeting has nothing to do with any individual, far from that,” he said.
“We received a summons from the state government for a meeting on Tuesday. The aim is to ensure that everything is done correctly so the process does not become a fertile ground for litigation or legal controversy.”
He added that the intervention would help the ruling house cross its Ts and dot its Is, ensuring a flawless and legally sound selection process.
KWAM1 Rumours Dismissed
Owoyemi also dismissed insinuations that the postponement was linked to the reported interest of Fuji music star, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM1), reiterating that the singer is not a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and is therefore not eligible to contest.
60 Princes in the Race — Vice Chairman
Also speaking with www.cjsoftflix.com, the Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed that both the ruling house and the kingmakers had been invited to a meeting with the government, necessitating the postponement.
The University of Lagos Professor of Mass Communication disclosed that no fewer than 60 princes are currently vying for the Awujale stool.
“The government will meet with the ruling house, the kingmakers, and the Awujale Interregnum Committee. The outcome of that meeting will determine when the nomination meeting will be held,” he said.
“Anyone suggesting the postponement is about an individual is being mischievous. So far, about 60 people are in the race to become the next Awujale.”
Search for New Awujale Intensifies
The search for a successor to the highly revered Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for an extraordinary 65 years, has intensified following a directive by the local government giving the ruling house 14 days to submit names of eligible candidates for the throne.
As the process unfolds, all eyes remain on the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the outcome of the state government’s intervention, which is expected to shape the next phase of the historic succession process.
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