The race for the revered throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland has taken a significant turn. The Fidipote Ruling House has officially stepped forward to claim its right to present candidates, following the alleged failure of the initially entitled Fusengbuwa Ruling House to meet a critical legal deadline.
Legal Grounds for the Claim
In a formal letter addressed to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area and the Ogun State Government, the Fidipote family laid out its case. The correspondence, jointly signed by the Head of the ruling house, Oba Tajudeen Omotayo, and the Secretary, Omooba Tunde Aderibigbe, cites specific provisions of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021 and the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959.
The family referenced a prior letter from the local government, dated December 2, 2025, which invited the Fusengbuwa House to submit candidates. According to the Fidipote's argument, Section 16(1)(b) of the state law mandates that a ruling house must submit candidate names within fourteen (14) days of such an announcement.
"The said statutory period of fourteen (14) days lapsed on 16th December, 2025, without the submission of any candidate(s) by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House," the letter stated. Consequently, they invoked Section 16(1)(c), which stipulates that the right to present candidates passes to the next ruling house in the rotational order if the first fails to act in time.
Next Steps: Family Meeting and Candidate Selection
Asserting that they are the next in line per the 1959 declaration, the Fidipote family has scheduled a crucial general meeting. The gathering is set for Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Fidipote Royal Hall on Fusigboye Street in Ijebu Ode's Idewon Quarters.
The agenda for the 10 a.m. meeting is clear and procedural:
- Formal expression of interest by aspiring candidates.
- Screening of candidates by eligible family members.
- A voting process to select the candidates who will be forwarded to the kingmakers.
The family has assured the authorities that this internal process will be conducted "peacefully, transparently and strictly in line with the law" and established customs. Copies of their letter have been sent to Governor Dapo Abiodun and other relevant officials for notification.
The Celebrity Connection and Historical Significance
This development brings the Fidipote Ruling House, with its deep cultural roots, into the national spotlight. The house is historically associated with the legendary Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1). Ayinde holds the traditional title of Olori Omo-Oba Ijebuland, which was conferred upon him by the late Oba Sikiru Adetona in 2023, further cementing the family's prominent status within the Ijebu traditional hierarchy.
The move sets the stage for the next phase in selecting a new Awujale, a paramount ruler whose influence extends across Ijebuland and into the broader socio-political landscape of Ogun State and Nigeria. All eyes will now be on the outcome of the Fidipote family meeting and the subsequent reactions from the kingmakers and the state government.
