Awujale Succession: Fusengbuwa Faces Fresh Test as Ijebuland Awaits New Monarch
By Akin Alade
The emergence of Omooba Otukayode Hakeem-Otufale as the new Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa/Jadiara Ruling House has opened a new phase in the search for the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, with attention now shifting from internal disagreements to the credibility of the succession process.
The development comes after months of disagreements, competing claims over the leadership of the ruling house, allegations concerning the previous selection exercise and legal disputes involving members of the Fusengbuwa family. The new leadership therefore inherits a responsibility that goes beyond family administration: rebuilding confidence in a process with implications for the entire Ijebu kingdom.
The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona in July 2025 after about 65 years on the throne. The succession rotates among four ruling houses—Gbelegbuwa, Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa and Fidipote—with Fusengbuwa next in line under the established arrangement.
What makes the present situation particularly important is that the earlier succession exercise encountered serious disagreements over procedure. In August, members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House announced the removal of three leaders following a fact-finding exercise that raised allegations of financial inducement, inadequate consultation and procedural irregularities. The affected leaders rejected the allegations and subsequently pursued legal action, illustrating the depth of the dispute.
The emergence of Otufale consequently provides an opportunity for the ruling house to establish a new foundation for the process. Members of the family have called for a fresh exercise in which qualified aspirants receive equal consideration and the rules governing the selection are clearly communicated and consistently applied.
For Ijebuland, the issue is larger than the fortunes of individual aspirants. The Awujale is a major traditional institution whose influence extends across the cultural identity and historical heritage of the Ijebu people. Consequently, the eventual selection will attract greater legitimacy if the process is seen as transparent, inclusive and faithful to the applicable customs and legal framework.
The Ogun State Government also has an important but carefully defined role to play. Its responsibility should be to provide the necessary regulatory framework and ensure compliance with applicable chieftaincy laws, while allowing the ruling house and kingmakers to discharge their traditional responsibilities. Recent developments have already demonstrated how disputes surrounding the process can generate litigation and delay.
The next stage should therefore be about reconciliation, documentation and confidence-building. The new Fusengbuwa leadership has an opportunity to bring the various family interests together, clarify the rules, ensure proper screening of aspirants and create a process that can withstand public and legal scrutiny. If that responsibility is handled carefully, the present controversy can become a turning point in the history of the Awujale succession—transforming a difficult chapter into an opportunity to strengthen the institution and uphold the expectations of Ijebuland.
