Ogun State Halts Awujale Selection Process
By Wellington Jopelo
The Ogun State Government has formally set aside the ongoing process to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland, directing that the exercise be restarted to comply strictly with existing chieftaincy laws.
Confirmation of the development came from Professor Fassy Yusuf, Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, who spoke in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
The revered Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July. The monarch, who ascended the throne in 1960, reigned for 65 years and died at the age of 91.
Following the vacancy, the Ijebu Ode Local Government had, in a letter dated December 2, 2025, instructed the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to nominate candidates for the throne within 14 days.
Acting on that directive, the ruling house initiated internal consultations, with reports indicating that over 60 princes indicated interest. Screening of aspirants was scheduled for December 15.
However, the exercise was abruptly halted after the state government summoned representatives of the ruling house and members of the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee to a meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting, convened by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, was said to have reviewed the legality of the steps taken so far in the selection process.
Speaking on the outcome, Prof. Yusuf disclosed that the government instructed the ruling house to discontinue the exercise and begin anew due to procedural lapses identified in the initial stages.
According to him, the decision was aimed at preventing possible legal challenges that could arise from flaws in the process.
“The meeting with the government was to ensure that everything falls in place,” Yusuf said. “The government wants us to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs Law regarding the installation of the Awujale.”
He added that the earlier directive giving the ruling house 14 days to submit names had been withdrawn and that a fresh letter would be issued to formally restart the process.
“So, very soon, we are going to receive another letter from the local government and begin the process afresh. The family will meet, review the situation, and take it from there. We have to follow the guidelines laid down by the government,” he stated.
Yusuf further explained that since no list of candidates had been submitted to the kingmakers, the cancellation posed no threat to the eventual installation process.
A senior state government official who attended the meeting also confirmed the suspension, dismissing suggestions of undue government interference.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the meeting was not about government interference,” the official said. “It was simply to correct the manner in which the process was initiated.”
The source explained that under the 2021 Obas and Chiefs Law and the 1957 chieftaincy declaration for the Awujale stool, the ruling house must first formally notify the local government of its readiness before the process can commence.
The official noted that adherence to the correct procedure was necessary to forestall avoidable court cases, especially given the high-profile nature of the Awujale stool and the long interval since the last installation.