Some members of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, the family entitled to the vacant stool of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, have protested exclusion from the selection process of the about 95 candidates jostling for the position.

In a now-trending video, the protesting members alleged that there is bias in the nomination meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Monday.

The nomination meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi; his deputy, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba; and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.

The Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke, and some other local government officials were present as observers.

Protesting the process with some members at the venue, one Prince Adeyemo Oduneye said some people came together to hijack their family house by denying them the privilege of gaining access into the venue and issued access cards only to those they wanted there.

He said, “If they had brought a law from the Fusengbuwa ruling house that all members of the family need to have an access card before attending a meeting, it would be understandable.

“But which constitution approves this method they have adopted? Don’t we have the right to be inside the venue as members of this family? They shared this card at a corner at midnight.

“When they first started the process, it was 30 forms they printed. Out of the 30, 18 got forms. From 18, it increased to 30. Now, they have toppled it to 95; in fact, it is 98. Three people have backed out because they believe that the process has been infiltrated.

“They asked us to come for a screening, but from the screening we did, they sabotaged the effort for their own interest. Now, the government has discovered that the screening should be redone. I’m from the Jadiara ruling house.

“We, the original Fusengbuwa, were locked out of the process. I re-establish that we have been sidelined because they want to achieve their goals. They are just being manipulative. Almost 80 percent of people in the hall are not Fusengbuwa; they have powerful people, and they are riding us with it.”

Oduneye said the protesting members are ready to go to the court rather than take the law into their own hands.

Recall that the Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the demise of the 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.

Following his demise, members of Fusengbuwa, who have been declared as the rightful family house to the throne, have been holding a series of meetings and clearance for princes interested in the revered seat.

During this period, Fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, declared his interest in the seat, claiming that he is from the Jadiara family house of the Fusegbuwa.

His claim was met with serious defiance, with many from the Jadiara claiming that he is not part of their family and was not recognised.

On Monday, contestants at the nomination meeting were represented by two of their relatives.

One of the relations moved the motion for the nomination, while the other seconded it, after which the family registered the nomination as accepted.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the nomination meeting, the family head of Fusengbuwa, Owoyemi, lauded family members for conducting themselves peacefully and ensuring that nothing untoward occurred that could jeopardise the nomination process.

Owoyemi said that, just as the Ifa oracle had foretold, the family was working across the board to ensure that whoever would assume the vacant Awujale stool would further take Ijebu land to greater heights.

The family head and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria said, “We thank God that what we have feared so much has finally come and gone peacefully.

“We have successfully, peacefully and harmoniously nominated our candidates, 95 of them. It is now left in the hands of the kingmakers to do a very good job conscientiously and pick one of them as the next Awujale.

“The Fusengbuwa family has done a lot of traditional research through the Ifa oracle to guide us on what should be done, and we have no doubt that the kingmakers are going to select the person that the Almighty God himself has appointed. We believe that, by God’s grace, in the next month, we should have the next Awujale.” (The PUNCH)

•Third from left, the head of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, former President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and other members of Council of Elders of the ruling house while speaking with journalists. CREDIT: Taiwo Bankole

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