The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has explained the circumstances that led to the sharp rise in the number of candidates seeking the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool, stating that the figure increased from an initial 12 to 95 after the Ogun State Government directed that the nomination process be opened and made free.
The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, clarified on Friday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, amid growing controversy surrounding the stalled succession process.
According to Owoyemi, the ruling house initially adopted a nomination fee in line with long-standing Yoruba traditional practice, but later reversed the decision following government intervention.
Owoyemi said the Fusengbuwa family originally resolved, unanimously, that aspirants should pay a nomination fee to cover the cost of organising the selection process.
“In the first place, we started with 12 candidates after the family unanimously resolved that a price tag should be placed on anyone who wants to contest for the position of Awujale, as it is common in Yorubaland,” he said.
He explained that during a general family meeting, different figures were proposed before a final amount was agreed upon.
“It was at the members’ general meeting that various suggestions were made. It went from ₦10 million to ₦50 million, to ₦25 million, to ₦20 million, until it finally settled at ₦10 million, and it was unanimously approved,” Owoyemi stated.
Following that decision, he revealed that 12 family members applied and paid ₦10 million each.
However, the Olori Ebi disclosed that the Ogun State Government later invited the ruling house to a meeting with senior state officials, where concerns were raised about fairness.
“We were advised that what we had charged was not fair to everybody and that we should return all the ₦10 million paid by each of the 12 candidates and announce that any willing member of the family could apply and collect the nomination form without paying a naira,” he said.
Owoyemi noted that the ruling house complied promptly with the directive.
“Within three days, we refunded all the money to those who had paid. We sent copies of the bank advice to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary to the State Government, and to the Governor himself as evidence that we had complied with the directive,” he added.
He said the removal of the nomination fee led to a rapid increase in applications.
“After that, members started to flock in. From 12 candidates, it went to 15, to 20, to 30, to 40, to 45, to 50, to 60, to 70, to 80, to 90, and eventually 95 before we went for the formal candidate nomination meeting,” Owoyemi explained.
He maintained that the development was a direct consequence of opening up the process, rather than any deliberate attempt to inflate the number of candidates.
The Olori Ebi rejected claims that the Awujale stool was being commercialised, insisting that the funds were never meant as payment for the throne.
“No king-making process is ever done on empty hands,” he said, adding that the money was intended strictly for logistics.
“The money was not supposed to be paid to anybody,” Owoyemi stressed, backing his position with a proverb and declaring that “the throne cannot be monetised”.
He further argued that changes in traditional selection processes have made such contributions less controversial.
According to him, nomination fees, where applicable, are paid into the family’s account and disbursed solely to cover expenses related to the selection exercise.
Owoyemi also expressed surprise over allegations that the Ogun State Government failed to allow the ruling house an opportunity to respond to certain petitions.
“We were surprised by those allegations because we were not given the opportunity to counterbalance them. We have a lot of enemies,” he said.
He also confirmed that Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, submitted his application late and subsequently instituted legal action.
Despite the controversies, he insisted that no individual or group could compromise the integrity of the process.
While acknowledging the role of the state, Owoyemi said the ruling house did not expect direct government involvement in choosing the monarch.
He added that Governor Dapo Abiodun should allow the kingmakers to carry out their constitutional duties.
The Awujale succession crisis followed the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025, and has since been characterised by disputes over eligibility, procedure, and the role of government.
The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 after petitions, protests, and security reports raised concerns about order and due process.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has since invited all candidates for security profiling.
The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, clarified on Friday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, amid growing controversy surrounding the stalled succession process.
According to Owoyemi, the ruling house initially adopted a nomination fee in line with long-standing Yoruba traditional practice, but later reversed the decision following government intervention.
Owoyemi said the Fusengbuwa family originally resolved, unanimously, that aspirants should pay a nomination fee to cover the cost of organising the selection process.
“In the first place, we started with 12 candidates after the family unanimously resolved that a price tag should be placed on anyone who wants to contest for the position of Awujale, as it is common in Yorubaland,” he said.
He explained that during a general family meeting, different figures were proposed before a final amount was agreed upon.
“It was at the members’ general meeting that various suggestions were made. It went from ₦10 million to ₦50 million, to ₦25 million, to ₦20 million, until it finally settled at ₦10 million, and it was unanimously approved,” Owoyemi stated.
Following that decision, he revealed that 12 family members applied and paid ₦10 million each.
However, the Olori Ebi disclosed that the Ogun State Government later invited the ruling house to a meeting with senior state officials, where concerns were raised about fairness.
“We were advised that what we had charged was not fair to everybody and that we should return all the ₦10 million paid by each of the 12 candidates and announce that any willing member of the family could apply and collect the nomination form without paying a naira,” he said.
Owoyemi noted that the ruling house complied promptly with the directive.
“Within three days, we refunded all the money to those who had paid. We sent copies of the bank advice to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary to the State Government, and to the Governor himself as evidence that we had complied with the directive,” he added.
He said the removal of the nomination fee led to a rapid increase in applications.
“After that, members started to flock in. From 12 candidates, it went to 15, to 20, to 30, to 40, to 45, to 50, to 60, to 70, to 80, to 90, and eventually 95 before we went for the formal candidate nomination meeting,” Owoyemi explained.
He maintained that the development was a direct consequence of opening up the process, rather than any deliberate attempt to inflate the number of candidates.
The Olori Ebi rejected claims that the Awujale stool was being commercialised, insisting that the funds were never meant as payment for the throne.
“No king-making process is ever done on empty hands,” he said, adding that the money was intended strictly for logistics.
“The money was not supposed to be paid to anybody,” Owoyemi stressed, backing his position with a proverb and declaring that “the throne cannot be monetised”.
He further argued that changes in traditional selection processes have made such contributions less controversial.
According to him, nomination fees, where applicable, are paid into the family’s account and disbursed solely to cover expenses related to the selection exercise.
Owoyemi also expressed surprise over allegations that the Ogun State Government failed to allow the ruling house an opportunity to respond to certain petitions.
“We were surprised by those allegations because we were not given the opportunity to counterbalance them. We have a lot of enemies,” he said.
He also confirmed that Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, submitted his application late and subsequently instituted legal action.
Despite the controversies, he insisted that no individual or group could compromise the integrity of the process.
While acknowledging the role of the state, Owoyemi said the ruling house did not expect direct government involvement in choosing the monarch.
He added that Governor Dapo Abiodun should allow the kingmakers to carry out their constitutional duties.
The Awujale succession crisis followed the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025, and has since been characterised by disputes over eligibility, procedure, and the role of government.
The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 after petitions, protests, and security reports raised concerns about order and due process.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has since invited all candidates for security profiling.
