The Ogun State Government has intervened in the succession process for the Awujale of Ijebuland, leading to the postponement of the nomination meeting earlier scheduled by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, over concerns about possible procedural lapses that could result in legal challenges.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which is next in line to produce the Awujale following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July 2025 at the age of 91, had announced that its nomination meeting would hold on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The announcement was contained in a letter dated December 11, 2025, signed by the family spokesman, Abiodun Ogidan. The meeting was slated for Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, with strict access limited to accredited family members.
However, in a subsequent notice titled “To all members of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Ijebu Ode,” the ruling house announced the postponement of the exercise.
The statement read in part:
“Due to circumstances beyond the family’s control, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House Awujale nomination meeting scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025, has been postponed. The new date will be announced shortly. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Speaking on Sunday, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, confirmed that the postponement followed the intervention of the Ogun State Government.
According to Owoyemi, the government stepped in to ensure that all actions taken in the succession process strictly comply with existing chieftaincy laws, in order to prevent disputes and potential litigation. He disclosed that the ruling house has been summoned to a meeting with the state government on Tuesday to review the steps taken so far and align them fully with legal requirements.
Also confirming the development, the Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Fassy Yusuf, said both members of the ruling house and the kingmakers had been invited to meet with the state government, necessitating a pause in the nomination process.
Yusuf further revealed that no fewer than 60 princes are vying to succeed the late Awujale, underscoring the need for a transparent, orderly, and legally sound selection process.
