‘We Will Not Accept Imposition’: Protests Rock Ijebu Ode as Govt Halts Awujale Selection Again
IJEBU ODE — Tensions in Ijebu Ode reached a boiling point on Friday morning as hundreds of angry youths and members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House stormed the streets to protest what they describe as a “calculated plot” by the Ogun State Government to impose an unpopular candidate on the throne of the Awujale.
The demonstration comes just 24 hours after the state government, for the second time in a month, abruptly suspended the selection process for the successor to the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, citing “security concerns.”
Chanting war songs and barricading the roads leading to the Awujale’s Palace, the protesters accused Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration of hiding behind “fake security reports” to manipulate the process in favor of a political ally.
“No To Political Monarch”
The protesters, brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “Ijebu is Not for Sale,” “We Say No to Imposition,” and “Allow the Kingmakers Do Their Job,” warned that any attempt to bypass the traditional Ifa selection process would lead to chaos.
Speaking to nuus.ng at the scene, a leader of the ruling house youth wing, Prince Adeyemo Oduneye, alleged that the government halted the screening of the 95 candidates because their “anointed candidate” was failing the traditional vetting.
“They stopped the process yesterday because they saw their candidate was not going to fly,” Oduneye shouted over the roar of the crowd. “We know they want to force a particular socialite on us who is not even a recognized member of our ruling house. We will resist this with our blood. The Awujale stool is not a political appointment!”
The KWAM 1 Factor
While the protesters did not officially name the “anointed candidate,” tensions have been high since Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1) declared interest in the stool.
The Fusengbuwa family has repeatedly disowned KWAM 1’s candidacy, stating he is not a direct descendant eligible for the throne. However, rumors persist that powerful political forces are lobbying for his installation, fueling the current unrest.
Kingmakers Push Back
Adding weight to the protesters’ grievances, the Awujale Kingmakers have also voiced their frustration.
In a press briefing held shortly before the protest, the Regent and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Chief Sonny Kuku, insisted that the kingmakers would not be rubber stamps for the government.
“We have received the government’s directive to stop, and we have obeyed,” Kuku said carefully. “But let it be known: we will not accept the imposition of any candidate. We have a duty to the ancestors and the people of Ijebu to select the best man, not the best politician.”
Government’s Defense
The Ogun State Government has swiftly denied the allegations of interference.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, maintained that the suspension was purely to prevent a breakdown of law and order due to “numerous petitions” flooding his office.
“The Governor has no preferred candidate,” Hamzat stated. “We only stepped in to pause the process because the desperate struggle for the throne was becoming a security threat. We appeal to the Fusengbuwa family to remain calm.”
As of the time of filing this report, armed policemen and Civil Defense corps have been deployed to the palace gate to prevent the protesters from gaining entry.