NEWS
95 Princes and Princesses Signal Interest as Fusengbuwa Ruling House Begins Nomination Process for Next Awujale of Ijebuland
No fewer than 95 eligible princes and princesses of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House have formally indicated interest in ascending the revered stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland, marking a significant moment in the traditional succession process of the ancient kingdom.
The development was made known on Monday at the commencement of the nomination meeting of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, held at the Bisi Rodipe Hall, Government Reserved Area, Ijebu Ode. The meeting drew key stakeholders of the ruling house, elders, and accredited representatives tasked with overseeing the initial phase of the selection exercise.
Disclosing the details of the process, the Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, who also serves as the Otunba Jadiara, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, explained that the nomination exercise marked the first critical hurdle in determining a successor to the prestigious traditional throne. He noted that only candidates who successfully scale this preliminary stage would progress further in the selection process.
Otunba Owoyemi, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, informed the gathering that the names of qualified and cleared aspirants would be formally transmitted to the Afobajes, the kingmakers traditionally empowered to select the next Awujale.
According to him, the Afobajes would deliberate and unanimously choose one candidate, whose name would thereafter be forwarded to the Ogun State Government for formal ratification in line with established customs and state laws.
The nomination meeting also featured the presence of other prominent leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, including the Deputy Olori Ebi, Otunba Ajidagba, the Chairman, Chief Fassy Yusuf, and several other senior figures, underscoring the importance attached to transparency and inclusiveness in the process.
Emphasising order and due process, Otunba Owoyemi stated that any individual or group dissatisfied with the conduct or outcome of the exercise has the option of channeling grievances through the appropriate authorities, particularly the Ogun State Government, rather than disrupting the traditional process.
The unfolding succession process has continued to attract widespread attention across Ijebuland and beyond, given the cultural, historical, and socio-political significance of the Awujale stool in Yoruba land and Nigeria at large.