By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A total of 95 members of the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode — 94 princes and a single princess have formally declared their interest in the vacant Awujale stool, the paramount throne of Ijebu land.
The nominations were conducted on Monday at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, overseen by the ruling house leadership, including Chairman Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, Deputy Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, and Vice Chairman Prof. Fassy Yusuf.
The Secretary of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke, and other officials attended as observers.
Notable candidates include Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of former Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga; Dr Kunle Hassan, founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital; Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction; and lawyer Oluwakemi Onanuga, the sole female contestant.
The stool became vacant last July following the death of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.
Candidates were represented by relatives at the meeting, with motions for nomination formally proposed and seconded.
Speaking after the meeting, Otunba Owoyemi praised family members for maintaining order and adhering to tradition.
“We have peacefully nominated 95 candidates. It is now the responsibility of the kingmakers to select the next Awujale,” he said, adding that the Ifa oracle guided the family throughout the process.
The ruling house also confirmed that all candidates had agreed to accept the outcome and refrain from legal challenges.
Popular Fuji musician Ayinde, known as KWAM1, had sought to participate in the selection, but the Fusengbuwa family ruled he is not a member of the ruling house and therefore ineligible.
His attempt to obtain a court injunction was dismissed, and he subsequently withdrew the suit.
Prof. Fassy Yusuf dismissed KWAM1’s objections as “misguided and irrelevant” to the ongoing nomination process.
Blueprint