Aspirants for Awujale stool rise to 95

The race for the vacant Awujale stool of Ijebu land has intensified, with no fewer than 95 aspirants emerging from the Fusengbuwa ruling house in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The aspirants—94 princes and one princess—were presented on Monday during a nomination meeting of the ruling house held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode.

The meeting was chaired by the head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, alongside his deputy, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, and Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf. Officials of the Ijebu Ode Local Government, including its Secretary, Mr Abiodun Oke, were present as observers.

Among those seeking the revered throne are Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; prominent ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan; and Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction. The only female aspirant is Mrs Oluwakemi Onanuga, a lawyer.

The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed away at 91 after a historic 65-year reign.

At the meeting, each aspirant was nominated by two family representatives—one proposer and one seconder—after which the nominations were formally registered and accepted by the family.

Speaking after the exercise, Otunba Owoyemi described the process as peaceful and orderly, commending members of the ruling house for their cooperation.

“We thank God that what we were concerned about passed without any hitch,” he said. “We have successfully and harmoniously nominated 95 candidates. It is now the responsibility of the kingmakers to select one of them as the next Awujale.”

Owoyemi, a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, said extensive consultations, including traditional divination, guided the process to ensure that the eventual monarch would promote unity and development in Ijebu land. He expressed optimism that a new Awujale would emerge within a month.

He also revealed that all aspirants had signed undertakings to accept the outcome of the selection process and avoid litigation, adding that the ruling house trusted the state government to follow tradition and due process in confirming the next Awujale.

The selection has drawn significant public interest, especially following the declaration of interest by Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal. However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house has maintained that Ayinde is not a member of the family and is therefore ineligible to contest.

Ayinde had earlier approached a High Court in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to stop the selection process, but the court dismissed the application for lacking merit. The suit was later withdrawn, according to his lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), to allow for a review of strategy.

In a letter dated January 8, 2026, addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Shittu raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the nomination process. He claimed that certain directives issued by the family’s Public Relations Officer conflicted with existing chieftaincy laws and official approvals, and alleged attempts to exclude some family members, including his client.

Responding, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prof. Yusuf, confirmed receipt of the letter but described it as misguided and irrelevant to the ongoing selection process.