Since the death of the 55th Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba ll, on July 13, 2025, the issue of who succeeds the elegant and classy Oba has become a big challenge to the kingmakers and chiefs that are connected to the selection process.
Oba Adetona, who joined his ancestors at the ripe age of 91 years after reigning for 65 years, was of the Anikinaiya royal family, one of the ruling houses in the ancient city which is the capital of the Ijebu nation. His death has paved way for the Fusengbuwa ruling house to present a suitable candidate to fill the vacant position.
By the Ijebu tradition, four Ruling Houses: Fusengbuwa, Fidipote, Gbelegbuwa and Anikinaiya, rotate the Awujale position among themselves. Oba Adetona succeeded Oba Daniel Adesanya of the Gbelegbuwa Ruling House who had succeeded Oba Ogunnaike Fibiwoga of the Fidipote Ruling House in 1933.
Since Oba Adetona joined the saints about 115 days ago, all eyes have been on the Fusengbuwa Ruling House whose last shot at the highly revered stool was during the four-year reign of Oba Adenuga Folagbade (1925-1929)
In keeping with the tradition, members of the (Fusengbuwa) Ruling House at home and abroad have been busy engaging in activities towards making the right decision. They have had series of meetings and thrown open, among members of the family, the expression of interest in the position. The family has made moves to settle its internal feuds in the interest of presenting a widely acceptable candidate at the end of the day.
Three factions of the family have emerged with Otunba Lateef Owoyemi heading one, Chief Dokun Ajidagba leading the second and Chief Fassy Yusuf heading the third. All of them have, however, assured the public of a free, fair and credible selection process.
In response to the assurance of a level playing ground, about 30 princes have made their intentions known. Among them are: Prince Taiwo Otun; Otunba Deji Oshibogun; Otunba Biodun Onanuga; Hon. Olaseeni Ottun; Otunba Fatai Arowolo; Prince Adewale Alausa; Prince Ademola Aderibigbe; Chief Kunle Hassan; Otunba Shakiru Bello and Prince Lateef Adeleye. A female aspirant, Dr. Oluwakemi Onanuga, has also thrown her hat into the ring, hinging her decision on the historical fact that two women: Oba Gbadegun and Oba Rubakoye have occupied the Awujale position before in 1644 and 1749 respectively
The game is still on as no candidate has yet been picked. However, speculations are rife that money has started exchanging hands in a concerted effort by some moneybags to influence the process and tilt the game in favor of certain players. The ‘powerfuls’ are believed to have started queuing behind some of the princes, using their connections and governmental influence to curry favor for their preferred candidate. Many of the shakers of the society are said to have stormed Ijebu-Ode with loads of money (local and foreign currency) and various gifts for the kingmakers, family leaders and members of the selection committee set up by the Ogun State government.
In the aftermath of this, some of the “afobajes” and family members have started living large courtesy of the freebies while some are now cruising around in their new luxury jeep gifts
Observers see this as a dangerous dimension that may likely compromise the process and cast a shadow on its outcome in flagrant disregard to the tradition of free, fair, transparent and credible selection process of the Ijebu people. It is also against the wishes of Oba Adetona who had warned the chiefs not to ‘commercialize’ the selection of his successor.
The Kabiyesi was said to have handed the chiefs and afobajes the warning during a meeting in the twilight of his reign where he cursed whoever places money or any other form of inducement over merit “in the selection of who succeeds me”
It is hoped that transparency would be allowed so that whoever finally emerges will enjoy the respect and cooperation of the entire Ijebu nation where the Awujale is the paramount ruler. The weight and power of the office of Awujale of Ijebuland is so enormous that the occupier cannot afford to deal with resentment of the people over wrongful choices or force legitimacy on assumption of office.
The case of shooting of Oba Daniel Adesanya by Yesufu Idumota on October 20, 1934 and the eventual amputation of the monarch’s right hand over wrong selection is still fresh in memory.
As the custodian of the Ijebu cultural heritage and head of about 60 other Obas, the Awujale has to be highly respected and widely accepted across the nooks and crannies of the Ijebu nation. The successor to the charismatic Oba Adetona must be a mature, elegant and intelligent person who should be selected through a rigorous but fair process. Ijebu people cherish their Awujale and will not want any external influence to dictate any aspect of his ascendancy to the throne.
