The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, direct descendants of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Alayeluwa Oba Theophilus Adenuga Tunwase, popularly known as Folagbade and the last monarch from the Fusengbuwa lineage, has reaffirmed that only his immediate family holds the legitimate right to present candidates for the vacant Awujale stool.
Addressing the controversy surrounding succession to the revered throne, the family described as “misleading and unfounded” recent claims by some distant relatives who now parade themselves as members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
In an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Tuesday, the Secretary of the direct descendants, Omoba Adekunle Adenuga, and the grandson of the late Awujale, Omoba Adelaju Adenuga, shed light on the controversies surrounding the ongoing succession process, clarifying the lineage, traditions, and legality of the royal transition.
Omoba Adekunle stated that, according to the regent, Dr. Sonny Kuku, the kingmakers have not yet been constituted. He explained that “what we have currently is just the Council-in-Chief to take care of the affairs of the palace and other administrative duties, not as kingmakers currently.”
He added that the regent had clarified that transition matters are not part of the council’s function, stressing that “the governor constituted an administrative Council-in-Chief, which means that their rights may not have been breached until they are now officially recognized as kingmakers. Some of the people presently in the Council-in-Chief are not kingmakers.”
He explained that, traditionally, the kingmakers are not specially appointed but emerge naturally upon the passing of a monarch. “The kingmakers are not constituted specially; they know themselves. Once a king dies, it’s like they enact themselves into existence,” he said.
He further recalled that the last council of kingmakers was headed by Chief Timothy Otutola, the Ogbeni Ooja, while the Olisa had played a similar role in earlier periods.
On internal alignments, Omoba Adekunle explained that while various branches of the royal lineage might trace their ancestry to the Fusengbuwa line, only the direct descendants of the late Awujale, Oba Theophilus Adenuga Tunwase, are legally recognized under the existing succession declaration.
According to him, “If you are looking at the Fusengbuwa Ruling House descendants, Ajidagba is a member, possibly Fasi Yusuf is a member, but when we are talking of what the law says, the repository position has always been the last king that is being referenced. When you mention the president of Nigeria now, you mean President Ahmed Tinubu. But if you mention president in 1979, you’re referring to Shehu Shagari. So also, the ruling house varies with generation.”
He stressed that while different families may trace their origin to Fusengbuwa, only the line directly descending from the last king retains the right to nominate successors. “Are you going to separate Tunwase from his son, that the son is not a member of his family, or Tunwase from Fusengbuwa? It’s never done,” he remarked.
He likened such arguments to separating Abraham from Isaac or Jacob, describing them as both illogical and contrary to Ijebu tradition.
Omoba Adekunle added that although other families within the broader lineage have fused identities over generations, the Fusengbuwa-Tunwase line remains distinct and indivisible. He maintained that the name “Fusengbuwa” is generic but historically tied to the reigning monarch of the lineage.
Explaining the confusion surrounding multiple claimants, he said the divisions were fueled by self-interest and political interference. “Some people are financing factions to present candidates for their interests. You see, some prominent names are now surfacing, claiming to be part of the ruling house even when they are not directly from the late Awujale’s line,” he noted.
The secretary also raised concerns over the selling of nomination forms within the royal family, describing it as a desecration of custom. “One would have expected that you don’t need to sell a form to your child to put his name forward,” he said, stressing that such commercialization of tradition undermines the sanctity of the stool.
On the matter of women joining the contest, he clarified that it was not a gender issue but a matter of law and tradition. “The law says that when there is no male, a woman can come forward, but if there are males contesting, she doesn’t have a chance at all,” he explained.
Omoba Adelaju Adenuga, the grandson of the late Awujale, also dismissed the claims of multiple Oloriebis emerging from different factions, describing them as mere social clubs without authority. “They’re not the ones who are given the authority to present Omobas. That’s why you see all this commotion and selling of application forms. They are trying to buy the crown. That’s not the way forward,” he said.
He further explained that the family’s position is not to alter existing traditions but to preserve the integrity of the succession process as enshrined in the 1959 Declaration and Ogun State’s Chieftaincy Law.
According to him, “We would expect that the local government chairman will not take that step until he is aware that the full constitution of the kingmakers has been placed, because there’s no sense starting the process when the people to receive nominations are not yet complete.”
On possible redress should the process deviate from established norms, Omoba Adekunle said, “Redress can only be done in court. Ifa is another way, divinity is another way, but divinity will not give order; only the court can.”
He noted that while traditional mechanisms have their place, the Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to seek judicial redress in cases of injustice.
Omoba Adelaju, however, emphasized the need for unity and adherence to due process, urging all parties to respect tradition. “We have only just come out of the mourning period. Therefore, it’s not something we have already started discussing and preparing for,” he said, stressing that the family would act collectively under the guidance of their Olori Ebi when the time comes.
He also warned against the rising number of self-proclaimed princes and princesses jostling for the stool, describing it as “unheard of and unbecoming of Ijebu royal heritage.”
According to him, “It’s become like a lottery. Any prince who calls himself a prince thinks he can buy the crown, and that’s not what our forefathers stood for.”
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House reaffirmed that the legitimate process for choosing the next Awujale rests with the direct descendants of the last monarch and the duly recognized kingmakers once properly constituted.
As the mourning period ends, the Ogun State Government and traditional authorities are expected to oversee the next phase of succession, ensuring a process rooted in law, lineage, and legacy.
