The Chairman (Olori Ebi) of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Otunba Abdullateef Abdulaziz Owoyemi, has broken his silence on the spinning controversies, political intrigues, and public speculation surrounding the suspended Awujale succession process, declaring unequivocally that neither President Bola Tinubu nor Governor Dapo Abiodun is imposing any candidate.
Owoyemi made these revelations during an exclusive appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme aired on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Thursday where he added that that no amount of pressure or inducement would make him compromise the integrity of the selection process.
Recall that the Awujale succession process was suspended by the Ogun State Government on January 21, 2026, following what officials described as multiple petitions, rising tensions, and security concerns, a decision that has since generated intense debate, conspiracy theories, and political interpretations both within and outside Ijebuland.
However, Owoyemi revealed that, contrary to widespread public belief, neither he nor the Fusengbuwa ruling house has been formally served with any petitions regarding the selection process.
According to him, whole government officials referenced the existence of several petitions, none was officially presented for his response, a development he describes as both curious and and deeply frustrating. “Let me be very clear, people keep talking about petitions. But up till today, I have not seen any petition. Nobody has served me any petition. Nobody has served the Fusengbuwa ruling House any petition. I have not been given any document to respond to. So when people say there are petitions, I ask: Where are they?”.
Owoyemi, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), explained that during his meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders, he deliberately refrained from aggressively demanding the alleged petitions in order not to escalate tensions. “If I had insisted that they must show me petitions, the discussion would have collapsed. My interest was not to argue but to find a way forward. I was more concerned about how to resolve the crisis than how to trade accusations.”
He further clarified that security investigations, if any, must not be used as justification to suspend a traditional process that has both constitutional and cultural backing. “If anybody has committed any criminal offence, let the government investigate. That is their responsibility. They can investigate for one year, two years, even ten years. But that should not stop the traditional process of appointing an Awujale. You cannot suspend culture and history because of allegations.”
Speaking one of the most controversial elements of the entire succession process, which is the unprecedented emergence of 95 aspirants, a figure widely regarded as the highest in the history of Ijebu traditional rulership, Owoyemi traced the development to government intervention that dismantled an earlier regulatory framework put in place by the ruling house.
He explained that anticipating intense interest in the revered Awujale stool, the ruling House introduced a ₦10 million administrative and logistical fee, not as a commercial charge, but as a screening and organizational tool.
“We knew this stool would attract a massive number of aspirants. We are talking about one of the most powerful traditional stools in Yorubaland. So, we introduced a financial threshold, not to enrich ourselves, but to regulate the process, limit unserious interest, and cover unavoidable logistics.”
Owoyemi detailed that the funds were meant to cover: Ritual processes, Rehabilitation of the sacred Odo seclusion facility, Administrative documentation and Security arrangements. Initially, only 12 aspirants paid the fee, effectively streamlining the process. However, following complaints and political pressure, the Ogun State Government directed the ruling House to refund all payments and allow free application.
“We refunded every single kobo within three days. Every payment was returned. Nothing was shared. Nothing was diverted. Once that restriction was removed, applications started pouring in uncontrollably, and before we knew it, the number had risen to 95. Ironically, the same people who forced the refund are now complaining about the number. You cannot dismantle a regulatory mechanism and then complain about chaos.”
Reflecting on which legal path to toe to reduce the number of contestants, Owoyemi emphasized that the Fusengbuwa ruling house has no legal authority to screen, shortlist, or disqualify candidates, stressing that only the kingmakers possess that constitutional and traditional mandate.
However, he pointed to Section 15(1)(b)(3) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State (2021), which strictly limits eligibility to direct descendants of former Awujales from the ruling house.
“There have been four Awujales from our ruling house. The law is explicit. If you cannot trace your bloodline directly to any of these four monarchs, your aspiration collapses legally. But it is not my duty to enforce that. It is the kingmakers who will do the screening.”
He warned that any unilateral action by him could plunge the process into prolonged litigation. “If I remove anybody’s name, they will drag me to court immediately. And once court begins, you can forget about crowning an Awujale for the next ten years. That is why I strictly stayed within my constitutional boundaries”, he said.
Commenting on President Tinubu, Governor Abiodun, and the alleged imposition of Kunle Kuye allegations by President Bola Tinubu, the Ruling House Chairman said, “Let me say this clearly and publicly: the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has never called me, never sent anybody to me, never instructed me, and never pressured me to impose Kunle Kuye or any other person as Awujale. At no time did President Bola Ahmed Tinubu interfere in this process.
“The Governor also has never asked me to impose any candidate. What he wants is peace, stability, and a credible process. That is all. However, there is intense political lobbying, given the prestige of the Awujale stool. People came. Politicians came. Influential Nigerians came. They made offers. They made promises. They brought inducements. But I told them clearly: I cannot sell this stool. If I take from one person, I must take from all. And once I do that, I lose my honour, my integrity, and my ancestral mandate”, he said.
Addressing one of the most sensational elements of the succession crisis, Owoyemi explained why Fuji star K1 The Ultimate, was ruled ineligible.
According to him, membership of the Fusengbuwa ruling House is not symbolic, casual, or declarative, but governed by strict genealogical, cultural, and ritual procedures.
“You don’t wake up and declare yourself a member of this ruling house. There is a formal lineage verification process. Your ancestry must be traced, confirmed, and validated by recognized family heads. You must be screened by elders, and you must perform traditional oath rites.
“The person who signed as his family head is not recognized by our ruling house. We investigated thoroughly. We cross-checked. The elders sat on it extensively. The conclusion was unanimous: he does not belong to the Fusengbuwa ruling house. Every legitimate member must swear an oath of allegiance. That process was not fulfilled in his case. These are not political decisions; they are cultural, legal, and historical, Owoyemi stressed.
