The Ogun State Government has cancelled the ongoing process to select a new Awujale of Ijebu land and directed the Fusengbuwa ruling house to restart the exercise in line with existing laws.
The decision was confirmed by the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, after a meeting convened by the state government to address what it described as procedural lapses in the process.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, brought together representatives of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, the Ijebu Ode Local Government and the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee. It was chaired by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years.
Earlier, the Ijebu Ode Local Government had, in a letter dated December 2, 2025, directed the Fusengbuwa ruling house to begin the process of selecting a new Awujale and submit names of candidates within 14 days.
Following the directive, the ruling house reportedly began the process, with more than 60 princes indicating interest. A selection meeting was also fixed for December 15.
However, Prof. Yusuf said the state government later ordered that the process be halted and restarted to prevent legal complications.
“The government’s intervention is not unusual. The concern of all stakeholders is to ensure strict compliance with the 2021 Obas and Chiefs Law and the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration for the Awujale stool,” he said.
He explained that the earlier instruction from the local government had been withdrawn and that a fresh process would begin once a new letter is issued.
“We have not submitted any list to the kingmakers, so there is nothing to worry about. The family will meet and follow the guidelines provided by the government to avoid a floodgate of litigation,” Yusuf added.
Speaking in a telephone interview, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, confirmed that the selection process had been stopped.
He said the decision was not interference but a corrective step.
“The local government did not follow the due process required by law. The ruling house is expected to first notify the local government of its readiness. The local government will then inform the ministry, which will authorise the commencement of the process,” he said.
Hamzat noted that the mistakes were understandable because the Awujale stool had not been vacant for more than six decades.
“The aim is to ensure everything is done properly and legally, so as to avoid unnecessary court cases,” he added.
Meanwhile, a fresh controversy has emerged following a letter from the Fidipote ruling house, another family entitled to the Awujale stool.
In a letter dated December 17, the Fidipote ruling house informed the Ijebu Ode Local Government of its intention to present candidates for the throne, claiming that the Fusengbuwa ruling house had lost its right by failing to meet the 14-day deadline earlier set by the local government.
The letter was signed by Oba Tajudeen Omotayo, the Olumope of Imope, and the Secretary of the ruling house, Omooba Tunde Aderibigbe.
The family stated, “We respectfully refer to your letter dated 2 December, 2025, wherein the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was invited to present candidate(s) for the vacant stool of Awujale in accordance with Section 16 (1)(a) and (b) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law 2021.”
It claimed that the 14-day period ended on December 16, 2025, without the submission of any candidate by the Fusengbuwa ruling house.
According to the Fidipote family, “By virtue of Section 16 (1)(c) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021, where the ruling house first entitled fails to submit candidate(s) within the prescribed time, the next ruling house becomes legally entitled to present candidate(s).”
The family added that it had scheduled a general meeting for Saturday, December 20, 2025, to screen and select candidates, after which names would be forwarded to the kingmakers.
Reacting to the development, the commissioner said the state government would respond to the letter.
“As far as the state government is concerned, the selection process for the Awujale stool has not commenced,” Hamzat said.
