The Fusengbuwa/Jadiara Ruling House of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, has demanded a fresh selection process for the vacant Awujale stool, insisting that the exercise must be transparent, follow established procedures and give all qualified members a fair opportunity to participate.
The demand was made at a meeting of the ruling house at Ule Nla Agunsebi Hall, Ijebu Ode, on Sunday, where Omooba Otukayode Hakeem Otufale was also elected the new Olori Ebi.
The ruling house said the decision to seek a fresh process followed concerns over the handling of the previous exercise, including alleged procedural infractions, inadequate consultation and other issues which, according to its members, compromised confidence in the process.
The meeting, attended by elders, princes and heads of various family units, also resolved to reposition the ruling house, restore unity and ensure that its role in the selection of the next Awujale is properly recognised.
Speaking on behalf of the Tunwase Ruling House, Otunba Kehinde Alebiosun said the family decided to regroup following what he described as an embarrassing situation arising from the manner in which former leaders handled the selection process.
He alleged serious traditional infractions, failure to follow due procedures and inadequate consultation with members of the ruling house.
“It is unfortunate that the people who handled the situation surrounding the selection of the Awujale failed to follow the necessary procedures. But thank God for the opportunity to right the wrong,” he said.
Alebiosun said the fresh initiative was intended to restore unity and ensure that the ruling house properly participates in the selection of the next Awujale.
Representatives of the various family units subsequently presented a certificate to Otufale, formally recognising him as the new Olori Ebi.
In his acceptance speech, Otufale pledged to promote unity, transparency and accountability, while raising questions about the conduct of the previous committee that handled the selection process.
He alleged that the committee failed to operate as a team and did not account for funds allegedly collected from aspirants.
Otufale said the chairmen involved in the process had been informed by the government that money should not be the basis for selecting a candidate for the Awujale stool and that any money collected from aspirants should be refunded.
“Awujale Ijebu Ode stool isn’t for sale,” he said.
“It is sad to note that, as we are gathered here today, no refunds have been made and no statement of account has been rendered to the family to confirm how much was collected, into which account the money was paid and how any refunds were made.”
Otufale called for documentary evidence from anyone claiming that the funds had been refunded, saying such evidence should be presented to the appropriate authorities for verification and, where necessary, recovery.
He also alleged that some aspirants were excluded from meetings, contrary to established practice, and questioned the submission of 86 names to the kingmakers without what he described as proper screening.
He said the development raised questions about whether those entrusted with the process had fully discharged their responsibilities.
Otufale further raised questions over reports that two former chairmen associated with the process had acquired new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, calling for the circumstances surrounding the acquisitions to be established.
He said the former chairmen had lost the confidence of the ruling house and should no longer be entrusted with responsibilities relating to the selection process.
On the legal proceedings reportedly instituted by some former leaders in connection with the Awujale selection process, Otufale said the ruling house was not aware of or party to any such action against the state government.
He said the new leadership would communicate the position of the ruling house to the court and clarify that the individuals concerned were not authorised to act on its behalf.
Dissociating the Fusengbuwa Ruling House from any legal action against the government, Otufale said the family was interested in working with the government to restart the selection process.
“We are not willing or interested in taking the government to court. The government has been able to stop the stool from being stolen, and when the restart button is pressed, we shall do a better job in conducting the selection process than the mess created by the trio,” he said.
Otufale said his emergence as Olori Ebi followed the laid-down procedures of the ruling house, adding that an acting chairman had also been appointed.
He said letters had been sent to the government and the kingmakers informing them of the new developments.
He pledged to ensure fairness to all qualified members of the ruling house, saying the selection process must be conducted from the family house and in accordance with established procedures.
“I will be fair to everyone. I will try my best. I will not leave the family house, where the staff of office and the letter were brought, to go and hold meetings somewhere else. It will be against my principle,” he said.
A member of the ruling house, Omooba Abiodun Ogidan, also called for the selection process to be restarted, saying the previous process had been compromised by the former chairman and his deputy.
He urged the family and the government to move forward with a fresh process aimed at producing a new Awujale.
Ogidan also dismissed suggestions of a faction within the ruling house, saying the family remained united.
“We do not have factions. This is the family house. It is the address the government has, and anybody who is a member of the family knows that this is where we meet,” he said.
The ruling house maintained that the fresh process should be conducted transparently, with all qualified members given fair consideration and established procedures strictly followed.
