KWAM 1 Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Exclude Him From Awujale Nomination Process

Renowned Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebuland, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to exclude him from the nomination process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
Ayinde accused the Fusengbuwa Ruling House—next in line to produce the Awujale—of taking actions he claimed violate the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He alleged that recent decisions by the ruling house were deliberately designed to sideline him from the ongoing selection process.
In a letter addressed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, the Fuji maestro, who is said to belong to the Fidipote Ruling House, claimed that the Fusengbuwa family leadership was disenfranchising eligible members, including himself, from participating in the nomination of candidates for the revered Awujale stool.
The development comes as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is set to resume its nomination process on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Ijebu Ode, following an earlier suspension. The process is aimed at selecting a successor to the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign.
KWAM 1’s allegation was contained in a letter dated January 8, 2026, written by his legal counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN. In the letter, the musician expressed concern over what he described as unilateral actions taken by the ruling house’s leadership.
The letter recalled that the Ijebu Ode Local Government, through a correspondence dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, approved the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to commence and conclude its nomination process within 14 days starting from that date.
However, Ayinde said he was taken aback when, while family members were preparing for a general meeting, the ruling house’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, allegedly issued a notice directing aspirants to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee. The notice reportedly fixed the nomination exercise for January 12, 2026.
According to the letter, “It is a matter of deep concern to our client that all these directives, which contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, Obas and Chiefs Law, and the letter from the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, were included in the family’s letter dated January 6, 2026.”
The letter further alleged that the leadership of the ruling house was attempting to disenfranchise eligible members by introducing a delegate-based screening and nomination process, which KWAM 1 argued is inconsistent with existing chieftaincy laws.
“All members of the ruling house are entitled to attend the meeting to nominate candidates of their choice. A group of people cannot usurp these rights,” the letter stated.
KWAM 1 had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to stop Governor Abiodun and six others from proceeding with the selection process. The court declined the request, after which the musician withdrew the suit without giving reasons.
In his latest appeal, Ayinde urged the Ogun State Government to intervene promptly to safeguard due process, ensure fairness, and protect his rights and those of other eligible members of the ruling house in the highly sensitive Awujale succession process.