Awujale Stool: KWAM1 Writes Ogun Governor
By Wellington Jopelo
Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, has accused the Ogun State Government and the Fusengbuwa ruling house of plotting to exclude him from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
In a letter dated January 8, 2026, and addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun through his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), Ayinde alleged that the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is next in line to produce the Awujale, is acting against the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He claimed the actions are designed to disenfranchise him and other interested princes.
Ayinde warned that the current steps being taken could undermine due process and fairness in the selection of the new Awujale, a stool that became vacant after the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July 2025.
According to the letter, the Ijebu-Ode Local Government had, on January 6, 2026, approved the ruling house to begin the selection process. However, Ayinde said he was surprised when the family’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, later issued a notice directing candidates to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee.
The notice reportedly fixed the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, while stating that delegates to carry out the nomination would be selected at a family meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
Ayinde argued that this arrangement contradicts existing laws, insisting that all members of the ruling house have the right to attend meetings and nominate candidates of their choice, without restrictions or delegate-based screening.
He urged Governor Abiodun to intervene promptly to protect his rights and ensure transparency and compliance with the law in the selection process.
Reacting, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed receiving the letter but dismissed it as baseless. He described the claims as “arrant nonsense” and said the issue of screening was necessary due to the large size of the ruling house.
Yusuf noted that the ruling house has over 20,000 members, making open participation impractical. He added that the government would respond to the letter appropriately.
The family has fixed Monday, January 12, 2026, for the nomination meeting of contestants vying for the Awujale stool.
Efforts to get a response from the Ogun State Government were unsuccessful, as the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the governor, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, did not respond to enquiries at the time of filing this report.