The Fusengbuwa/Jadiara Ruling House of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, has called for a fresh process to select the next Awujale, saying the exercise must be transparent, follow established procedures and provide equal opportunities for all qualified members.
The demand was made at a meeting of the ruling house held at Ule Nla Agunsebi Hall, Ijebu Ode, on Sunday, where Omooba Otukayode Hakeem Otufale was elected the new Olori Ebi.
The ruling house said its decision followed concerns over the conduct of the previous selection exercise, including alleged procedural breaches, inadequate consultation and other issues which members said had undermined confidence in the process.
The meeting, attended by elders, princes and heads of various family units, also resolved to strengthen the unity of the ruling house and ensure that its role in selecting the next Awujale is properly recognised.
Speaking on behalf of the Tunwase Ruling House, Otunba Kehinde Alebiosun said members had decided to regroup following what he described as an embarrassing episode arising from the manner in which previous leaders handled the selection process.
Alebiosun alleged that traditional procedures were breached and that there had been insufficient 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.
He said the fresh initiative was aimed at restoring unity within the family and ensuring that the ruling house played its proper role in choosing the next monarch.
Representatives of the various family units subsequently presented a certificate to Otufale, formally recognising him as the new Olori Ebi.
Olori Ebi raises questions over previous process
In his acceptance speech, Otufale pledged to promote unity, transparency and accountability within the ruling house.
He also raised questions about the conduct of the committee that previously handled the selection exercise, alleging that it failed to operate collectively and did not provide an account of money purportedly collected from aspirants.
Otufale said the chairmen involved in the process had been informed by the government that financial contributions should not determine who emerged as Awujale and that money collected from aspirants was expected to be refunded.
“Awujale Ijebu Ode stool isn’t for sale,” he said.
He alleged that no refunds had been made and that the family had not received an account showing how much was collected, the account into which the money was paid or details of any refunds.
Otufale called for documentary evidence from anyone claiming that refunds had been made, saying such documents should be submitted to the relevant authorities for verification and, where appropriate, recovery.
He further alleged that some aspirants had been excluded from meetings despite what he described as established practice, while 86 names were reportedly submitted to the kingmakers without proper screening.
According to him, the issues raised questions about whether those responsible for the previous exercise had adequately discharged their duties.
Otufale also questioned reports that two former chairmen associated with the process had acquired new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, calling for the circumstances surrounding the purchases to be established.
He said the former chairmen no longer enjoyed the confidence of the ruling house and should not be given further responsibilities connected with the selection process.
Ruling house distances itself from legal action
On reports of legal proceedings allegedly instituted by some former leaders over the Awujale selection, Otufale said the ruling house was neither aware of nor party to any such action against the state government.
He said the new leadership would communicate its position to the court and clarify that those individuals had no mandate to act on behalf of the ruling house.
Otufale said the family preferred to work with the government to restart the selection process rather than pursue litigation.
“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.
He said his emergence as Olori Ebi followed the ruling house’s established procedures and disclosed that an acting chairman had also been appointed.
According to Otufale, letters had been sent to the state government and the kingmakers to formally notify them of the developments.
He pledged to ensure fairness for all qualified members and said the selection exercise 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.
Family denies factionalisation
Another member of the ruling house, Omooba Abiodun Ogidan, backed the call for a fresh selection process, alleging that the previous exercise had been compromised by the former chairman and his deputy.
Ogidan urged the ruling house and the state government to move forward with a new process that would lead to the selection of the next Awujale.
He also rejected suggestions that the ruling house was divided into factions, insisting that 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 reiterated its demand for a transparent selection process, with all qualified members given equal consideration and all established procedures strictly followed.
