The race to succeed the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, the revered Awujale of Ijebu land who reigned for 65 years until his passing in July 2025, has taken a dramatic pause.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line to produce the paramount ruler, announced last week that its nomination meeting would hold on December 15 at Bisrod Hall, Ijebu-Ode. But by Friday, the family issued a fresh statement postponing the exercise “due to circumstances beyond the family’s control.”
The protocols for the meeting had been clearly outlined: only accredited family members would be admitted, each aspirant represented by two relatives—one to nominate, the other to second.
Aspirants themselves were barred from attending, with the ruling house urging decorum befitting the sacred process. Yet, with no fewer than 60 princes vying for the stool, tensions were already high.
On Sunday, Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Abdulateef Owoyemi, explained that the postponement followed a summons from the Ogun State Government.
The authorities, he said, intervened to prevent procedural errors that could lead to litigation.
“It is a process of comparing notes and ensuring that we cross our Ts and dot our Is. We appreciate this because it will help maintain standards and ensure that the process is flawless,” Owoyemi told newsmen
60 Princes in Contention, Government Seeks Order
Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed that both the family and the kingmakers had been invited to meet with the government and the Awujale Interregnum Committee on Tuesday.
The meeting, he said, would review the process and determine the new date for nominations.
“The postponement has nothing to do with anyone. Anyone saying otherwise is being mischievous and spreading falsehood. So far, about 60 people are in the race to become the next Awujale,” he stressed.
The ruling house also dismissed speculation linking the delay to the reported interest of Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM1), reiterating that he is not a member of the Fusengbuwa lineage and therefore ineligible.
With the local government having directed the ruling house to submit names within 14 days, the pressure to find a successor has intensified.
The outcome of Tuesday’s government-led meeting will shape the next steps in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched traditional successions.
For now, the throne of Ijebu land remains vacant, and the weight of history rests on ensuring that the process is both lawful and untainted.
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