One Year After Awujale’s Passing, Ijebu Throne Battle Remains Unresolved

(Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Photo by TELL Magazine)

Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and paramount king of Ijebuland, joined his ancestors exactly one year ago on Monday, July 13.

After 65 years on the reign, the monarch passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91.

He was laid to rest the next day, Monday, July 14, at his private residence in Ijebu-Ode, in accordance with Islamic rites.

News of his passing came just hours after that of his friend, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Born on May 10, 1934, into the family of Prince Rufai Adeleke of the Anikinaiya Royal House in Imupa, Ijebu-Ode, Oba Adetona was presented with the staff of office at age 26 by the then Premier of the Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola, succeeding Oba Adesanya Gbelegbuwa II.

He was married to three women, Iyabọ Oke, Modupe Ẹkundayọ and Oluwakẹmi Dodo-Williams, and is survived by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 2024, during his 90th birthday celebration, President Bola Tinubu honoured him with the nation's second-highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and years of selfless service.

Following his demise, no fewer than 95 people, made up of 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode, indicated interest in contesting for the vacant throne.

They emerged at a nomination meeting presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, and vice-chairman Prof Fassy Yusuf, held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode.

Among the contestants were Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of a former deputy governor of the state, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; renowned ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan; and Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction, while the only female aspirant was lawyer Oluwakemi Onanuga.

Fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, also declared interest in the throne, but the Fusengbuwa family swiftly dismissed his claim, insisting he was not a member of the ruling house and therefore ineligible to participate.

KWAM1 had approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode seeking an interim injunction to stop Governor Dapo Abiodun and six others from proceeding with the selection.

On December 11, 2025, the Ogun State Government cancelled the selection process, directing the ruling house to restart it in strict compliance with the law to avoid prolonged litigation.

Following this, the government, through a letter dated January 6, cleared the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to resume proceedings, only to suspend the process again on January 20, instructing all parties, including the ruling house and the Awujale Kingmakers' Council, to await further directives in the interest of peace and the integrity of the throne.

The suspension, contained in a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs signed by Commissioner Ganiyu Hamzat, was attributed to petitions received from security agencies and other stakeholders, citing security concerns and the need to maintain public order.

It was earlier reported that nine Ijebu Ode kingmakers were invited by the State Police Command in Eleweran, Abeokuta, in April, over allegations of bribery and financial inducement during the selection process, via a letter signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, Gbenga Adeoye.

They had also been summoned earlier in February over similar allegations, though the probe was eventually dropped following the intervention of some higher authorities.

One of the kingmakers, the Kakanfo of Ijebu land, Chief Abimbola Okenla, who confirmed the police invitation, described the repeated summons as a distraction and appealed to Governor Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to complete the process of selecting the next Awujale without further delay.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Alhaji Abdulateef Owoyemi, appealed to the governor to lift the suspension, arguing that it had stalled an age-long traditional exercise.

He described the bribery allegations against the kingmakers as frivolous, maintaining that nothing incriminating had been found against them.

He explained that the ruling house had already fulfilled its traditional obligation by submitting a list of nominees to the designated kingmakers before the process was halted, adding that investigations by the police and the Department of State Services had not established any wrongdoing on the part of the ruling house or the kingmakers.

He described the continued suspension as unjustified and expressed confidence in the integrity of the kingmakers, who he noted had been carefully selected during the reign of the late Awujale to choose his successor.

Despite these appeals, the 2026 Ojude Oba festival held without an Awujale on the throne, as the government's suspension of the selection process remained in force.

Meanwhile, a letter purportedly written by the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, to Governor Abiodun, nominating five princes for consideration, surfaced.

Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, urged the public to disregard the letter, stating that it does not alter the fact that the selection process remains suspended, and that whoever authored it lacked the standing to do so, noting that any valid communication from the kingmakers would ordinarily be routed through the local government.

When contacted, the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode denied any involvement in the letter, suggesting it may have been written in his name by persons seeking to tarnish his reputation.

It will be recalled that seven years before his death, Oba Adetona had cautioned against what he described as the "politicisation" of the stool after his passing, urging kingmakers to seek divine guidance before selecting his successor.

He had urged that a capable successor be chosen and that any candidate likely to set Ijebu land back be rejected, insisting that the process should not be reduced to a contest of wealth but should prioritise capability and the continued progress of the land.