Traditionalists and hundreds of members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebuland on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Ijebu Ode over an alleged plot to impose the next Awujale on the kingmakers, the ruling house and the Ijebu nation.
The protesters gathered at the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Archway before marching through Odo-Egbo, Itale and Palace Road, and later converged on the Ijebu Ode Local Government Headquarters in Itooro.
The Awujale stool became vacant on July 13, 2025, following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed on at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign.
Fusengbuwa Ruling House is traditionally next in line to produce the new Awujale. However, tension heightened after a circular issued by the Ogun State Government on January 20, 2026, directed the kingmakers to suspend further steps in the selection process. The directive reportedly halted consideration of 95 nominees earlier submitted by leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
The circular was signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, and has since fuelled allegations that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration was interfering in the process to impose a preferred candidate. The state government has, however, denied the allegation.
Unconvinced by the government’s explanation, members of the Fusengbuwa royal family and traditionalists took to the streets wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Fusengbuwa says no to imposition,” “Let Ifa oracle determine the next Awujale,” and “Let the kingmakers do their job.”
The protesters were received at the local government secretariat by the council chairman, Dare Alebiosu.
Leading the protest, Mrs Adejugba Obileye said the march was aimed at registering the ruling house’s displeasure over what she described as an attempt by the state government to hijack the traditional process.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Obileye called for the reopening of the palace and urged the government to stay clear of any form of imposition.
Obileye, who is also the Aremobinrin Jadiara of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, questioned why the selection process was halted for the second time within a month despite the kingmakers acting in line with tradition and existing laws.
She warned that the Awujale stool is sacred and should not be politicised or subjected to pecuniary interests.
“We are at the Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat to register our displeasure over the closure of the palace and the alleged plan to impose the next Awujale on us,” she said.
“Fusengbuwa Ruling House rejects any plan of imposition. The Awujale stool is sacred and must not be filled based on political considerations. We do not want a political Awujale.
“Our kingdom has a rich cultural heritage. We have the Ifa oracle in our family, and it should be allowed to pick the right candidate. Government should not impose a foreigner or interfere unnecessarily in the process.”
Another member of the ruling house, Olubunmi Adesanya, also appealed to the government to allow the kingmakers and the Ifa oracle to perform their traditional roles.
“We reject imposition in all forms. We plead with the government to allow the kingmakers do their job and respect our tradition,” Adesanya said.
Speaking on behalf of the traditionalists, High Chief Adekunle Talabi, the Obajelu Olumoko of Imoko and a priest of the Agemo masquerade, urged the government to distance itself from the alleged plan.
“There should be nothing like imposition. It is unacceptable,” Talabi said.
“The government should allow the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the kingmakers to pick the next Awujale as laid down by tradition from time immemorial.”
