The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu land has dismissed as unfounded a protest by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, over the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Ayinde, through a letter dated January 8, 2026 and written by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), had petitioned Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, alleging that he was being deliberately sidelined from the succession exercise. He contended that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which is next in line to produce the monarch, introduced procedures not recognised by the Chieftaincy Declaration or the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, with the aim of disenfranchising him.
However, the ruling house firmly rejected the claims. Speaking on Sunday, its Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, described the petition as baseless and lacking substance, insisting it had no bearing on the selection process.
He said the letter was either a product of misinformation or a misunderstanding of established tradition, adding that the family had no obligation to accommodate what he termed illogical demands. Yusuf stressed that with over 20,000 members in the ruling house, practical arrangements were inevitable to manage participation in the process.
According to him, the family has fixed Monday for the nomination meeting of aspirants for the vacant stool.
The contest for the revered Awujale throne has generated keen interest across Ijebu land, with reports indicating that more than 60 aspirants have shown interest. Ayinde has publicly declared his ambition. The Fusengbuwa family, however, maintains that the Fuji artiste is not a member of the ruling house and is therefore not eligible to participate.
Earlier, Ayinde had approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an interim injunction to halt the process and restrain the governor and other parties from proceeding. The court declined the request, ruling that the application lacked merit. The suit was later withdrawn by his legal team, without an explanation.
Following intervention by the state government, the ruling house had suspended the nomination exercise and restarted it afresh.
In a subsequent letter to the governor, Ayinde drew attention to an approval allegedly granted by the Ijebu-Ode Local Government through a letter dated January 6, 2026, authorising the ruling house to commence the selection process. He expressed surprise that, while preparations were ongoing, a notice was issued directing aspirants to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee.
He further objected to a directive fixing nominations for January 12, 2026, to be conducted by delegates chosen at an earlier meeting, arguing that such an arrangement was inconsistent with existing laws and customs governing the chieftaincy.
Ayinde’s lawyer warned that attempts to restrict participation or exclude his client would undermine due process and potentially trigger a crisis, urging the governor to intervene in the interest of fairness and legality.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed on at 91 after a remarkable 65-year reign.
