The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu land has dismissed as unfounded a protest letter written by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM1, to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over his alleged exclusion from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
In a letter dated January 8, 2026, written by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), Ayinde alleged that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House—next in line to produce the new Awujale—had introduced directives unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, which he claimed were aimed at disenfranchising him from contesting for the throne.
However, reacting to the protest on Sunday, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, described the claims as “arrant nonsense” with no relevance to the selection process.
Speaking on the telephone, Yusuf said the letter was misguided and that either the lawyer or his client was being misled. He added that the ruling house had over 20,000 members and that the idea of an unrestricted screening process was impractical.
“The issue being raised about the screening is illogical. We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house. How does he expect us to manage the crowd?” Yusuf said, adding that the nomination meeting of aspirants for the vacant stool had been fixed for Monday.
The selection process for the new Awujale, which has reportedly attracted more than 60 aspirants, has generated widespread interest, especially following Ayinde’s open declaration of interest in the revered stool. The Fusengbuwa family, however, maintains that the Fuji musician is not a member of the ruling house and is therefore not qualified to participate.
Ayinde had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the governor and six others from proceeding with the selection process. The court declined the application, ruling that it lacked merit, and the suit was later withdrawn by Ayinde’s counsel without explanation.
Following intervention by the state government, the ruling house had suspended and subsequently restarted the nomination process.
In his fresh letter to the governor, Ayinde said the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, in a letter dated January 6, 2026, approved the commencement of the selection process. He expressed surprise that the ruling house’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, later issued a notice directing candidates to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga.
Ayinde further alleged that while nominations were fixed for Monday, January 12, 2026, the directive stipulated that nominations would be conducted by delegates selected at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
His lawyer argued that the screening and delegate-based nomination process was inconsistent with the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, warning that any attempt to exclude his client would be resisted.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Ogun State Government proved unsuccessful, as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, had not responded to enquiries as of press time.
