The Ogun State Government has ordered a fresh selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland, nullifying the initial steps taken by the Fusengbuwa ruling house and triggering a new succession dispute. This directive, confirmed by state officials and family representatives, comes amid a surprise claim from another royal house seeking to replace Fusengbuwa, potentially upending a decades-old rotational system.
The stool became vacant in July 2025 following the passing of the revered Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years. In early December, the Ijebu Ode Local Government formally instructed the Fusengbuwa ruling house next in line by rotation to begin the process and submit candidate names within 14 days. However, after a meeting on Tuesday presided over by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, the state government, halted the exercise, citing procedural lapses.
Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, explained the government’s intervention. “The government’s concern is to ensure strict compliance with the 2021 Obas and Chiefs Law and the 1959 Chieftaincy Declaration for the Awujale stool,” Yusuf stated. He clarified that the initial local government letter has been withdrawn and a fresh process will begin anew, emphasising that no candidate list had been submitted to the kingmakers yet.
Commissioner Ganiyu Hamzat, in a telephone conversation, affirmed that the move was a corrective measure, not an interference. He outlined the proper procedure: the ruling house must first notify the local government of its readiness, after which the ministry authorises the commencement. “The identified errors are understandable, given that the Awujale stool had not been vacant for over six decades,” Hamzat noted, stressing the aim is to prevent future litigation by ensuring strict legal adherence.
However, a fresh complication emerged on Wednesday. The Fidipote ruling house, next in line after Fusengbuwa according to the 1959 declaration, served a letter to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, claiming it is now legally entitled to present candidates. The letter, signed by Oba Tajudeen Omotayo and Secretary Omooba Tunde Aderibigbe, argues that Fusengbuwa’s failure to submit names within the mandated 14-day period which lapsed on December 16 disqualifies them under 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 entitled under the order of rotation becomes legally entitled,” the Fidipote house stated. They have scheduled a family meeting for December 20 to screen interested princes and select candidates for the kingmakers.
When contacted regarding Fidipote’s claim, Commissioner Hamzat maintained that, from the government’s perspective, the selection process has not officially commenced. “The letter will be duly replied to,” he said, indicating that the state still recognises the need for Fusengbuwa to restart a proper process.
This development injects significant tension into what was already a delicate transition. With over sixty princes from the Fusengbuwa house reportedly initially interested, the reset ordered by the state aims for transparency. Yet, Fidipote’s assertive legal manoeuvre threatens to ignite a protracted inter-house dispute, reminiscent of chieftaincy crises that have delayed installations in other kingdoms for years.
The situation underscores the complex interplay between traditional succession plans and modern statutory governance in Nigeria. The Ogun State government, by invoking the 2021 law, seeks to anchor the process firmly in legal due process to avoid the “floodgate of litigation” Prof. Yusuf mentioned. However, the immediate consequence is a brewing conflict between two major ruling houses, each interpreting the same laws to its advantage.
As stakeholders await the next formal directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the future of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious royal stools hangs in a careful balance between law, tradition, and legacy.
