Armed security operatives drawn from the Police, Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Amotekun and So-Safe Corps have beefed up security along Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Archway leading to the Ijebu – Ode palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland over concerns that some powerful interests planned to infiltrate the meeting of the Kingmakers in a location within the facility and foist a candidate on them.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House leaders – Otunba Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi (Olori Ebi), Prince Adedokun Ajidagba (Deputy Olori – Ebi), Professor Fassy Yusuf (Vice Chairman) and others- on Monday, January 19, submitted the list bearing names of the 95 nominees(candidates) to the kingmakers who were expected to meet at the Palace to begin the process of selecting one candidate out of the 95 nominees but security operatives were sighted manning the entrance.

However, a letter by the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated January 20, 2026 directed the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to halt further steps on the selection process of the next Awujale until further notice.

“The State Government hereby directs that you convey this decision to the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House immediately. The latter particularly, should be advised to await further directives regarding the selection process,” the letter reads in part.

Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, who signed the letter and addressed to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Chairman, cited security concern and the need to protect public order and the integrity of the stool as reasons for the decision.

“State Government has received several petitions, reports from security agencies and other key stakeholders in relation to the ongoing selection process. In order to maintain public order, protect the integrity of the process, and maintain the veneration of the stool, it has become imperative to halt the selection process for the stool at this time,” he stated.The Nation reports that a prince reportedly already endorsed by the Oracle (Ifa) as the best candidate to succeed late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona and transform Ijebuland to a greater height was among the 95 nominees that emerged recently in the race for the throne..

The Nation reports that Princess Oluwakemi Adetokunboh, Prince Adebisi Kadiri; a retired Permanent Secretary, Lagos State, Prince Abdul – Fatai Arowolo of Aeron Construction, an engineering firm, Prince Olumuyiwa Adeyemi, Prince Okeowo Obafemi and Prince Adegbenga Bakare were among the 95 nominees jostling to become the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Owoyemi, who is Otunba Jadiara of Ijebuland and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), revealed that the royal family had carried out extensive traditional research to arrive at a decision to support one candidate among the 95, who he declined to name.

The list bearing names of the 95 nominees was endorsed by the quartet of the Olori – Ebi Fusengbuwa house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi; his Deputy Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Yusuf and Pastor Bolarinde Salami (Secretary of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House) while the nomination process attracted officials of the Ijebu Ode Local Government led by the Secretary to Local Government, Hon. Adebanjo Oke, as observers.

Owoyemi said: “We have successfully, peacefully and harmoniously nominated 95 candidates today. Now it’s in the hands of the kingmakers to do their work and select one of them for us. We in Fusengbuwa ruling house have done a lot of traditional research through the oracles to guide us on what’s going to happen. And the one spoken by the Oracle is among the nominees.

“And we have no doubt at all that the king makers are going to select the person that the Almighty God himself has appointed, the one that our ancestors have also blessed.

“It’s a win-win for everybody because even those who may not be appointed the king will serve in the palace by the grace of God. Everyone that applied has document guaranteeing that no matter what, there will be no litigation. So, we can be so rest assured that by the grace of Almighty God, we are going to be very, very happy.

“We know the government is going to do the right thing and support what the family supports… And God will guide them right… So that they pick for us the Awujale that, I’m told, will make Ijebu the biggest, greatest city in the whole of Africa. I’m not going to talk about the person the family supports now because you saw us nominating 95 of them… We support one of them.

“So, we are hopeful that the Kingmakers and the government select the best person for us. And we know they will not make any mistake.” (The Nation)

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