The Vice-Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Professor Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, has slammed the prolonged suspension of the Awujale selection process, saying the state government lacks the legal authority to suspend it.
Professor Yusuf stated this during a press conference at his office premises in GRA, Ijebu-Ode, on Wednesday, organised by the Grand Council of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to address recent controversies and speculations surrounding the leadership of the ruling house and the suspended Awujale selection process.
Recall that the Ogun State Government had, on December 11, 2025, suspended the Awujale selection process, citing “procedural errors” and possible violations of the law. The state government later lifted the suspension on January 6, 2026, only to suspend the process again on January 20, 2026, citing the need to “maintain public order, protect the integrity of the process, and maintain the veneration of the stool”, after receiving petitions challenging the process.
On both occasions, the state government justified the suspension and insisted it had legal authority for the actions under the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021.
However, Professor Yusuf, who is a lawyer and the Baagbimo of Ijebu, has insisted that the state government had no legal authority to suspend the Awujale selection process. He, however, ruled out filing a lawsuit to challenge the government’s action.
Professor Yusuf also stated that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had, on May 3, 2026, sent an open letter to the state government demanding an end to the embargo on the Awujale selection process.
The Chairman and Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, called for the prompt resumption of the Awujale selection process and said it was long overdue for the state government to reinstate the process.
Otunba Owoyemi, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), said the entire Ijebu land is worried about the lingering limbo on the vacant Awujale stool. He, however, expressed optimism that the process would resume in the next few weeks.
Otunba Owoyemi and Professor Yusuf also stressed that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had completed its duties in the Awujale selection process by submitting the names of the eligible aspirants to the Kingmakers. They explained that the 13 kingmakers are expected to scrutinise the aspirants and, by a majority decision, recommend a single candidate to the state government for approval.
