Ruling House Provides Detailed Explanation for N10 Million Awujale Nomination Fee
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has offered a comprehensive defense of its initial decision to set a N10 million application fee for aspirants to the Awujale of Ijebuland stool, emphasizing that the amount was determined through extensive internal family consultations rather than arbitrary imposition.
Family Consensus Behind Fee Structure
Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, the Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, appeared on Channels Television's The Morning Brief program on Friday, January 30, to clarify the controversial fee arrangement. He explained that the family reached this decision during a general meeting where members thoroughly discussed how to manage the substantial logistics involved in the nomination process for the prestigious traditional position.
"In the first place, we started with 12 candidates after the family unanimously resolved that a price tag should be placed on anyone who wants to contest for the position of Awujale, as it is common in Yorubaland," Owoyemi stated during the television appearance.
He detailed the deliberation process, noting that various figures were proposed before the family ultimately settled on N10 million after lengthy discussions. The amount reportedly went through multiple adjustments, starting from suggestions as high as N100 million before being reduced through family consensus to the final figure.
Refund Process Following Government Intervention
Owoyemi revealed that the ruling house promptly refunded all application fees within three days after the Ogun State Government intervened and directed that the selection process should be opened to all qualified family members without any financial requirements.
"We had an invitation from the Ogun State Government to meet with senior state officials," Owoyemi explained. "At that meeting, we were advised that what we had charged was not fair to everybody, and we should return all the N10 million each of the 12 candidates had paid and announce that any willing member of the family could apply and could collect the application form from us without paying a naira."
The family leader confirmed that copies of bank advice documenting the refunds were sent to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary to the State Government, and the governor himself as evidence of compliance with the government directive.
Rejection of Commercialization Allegations
Addressing accusations that the Awujale stool was being commercialized through the nomination fee, Owoyemi firmly dismissed these claims, explaining that the funds were intended solely to cover administrative expenses associated with organizing the nomination process.
"No king-making process is ever done on empty hands," Owoyemi asserted. "The money was not supposed to be paid to anybody. It was meant to cover expenses incurred in organising the nomination process."
He added that recent reforms in the selection process have actually reduced the influence of financial inducements by allowing broader participation of eligible family members, contrary to suggestions that the fee created exclusivity.
Background of the Succession Process
The succession process for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool has remained uncertain since the passing of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025. Disputes over eligibility criteria and procedural matters subsequently prompted the Ogun State Government to suspend the selection process in January 2026.
This marks the second intervention by state authorities since the succession process began, with the government previously directing the Ijebu Ode Local Government chairman to halt ongoing moves by kingmakers to nominate a candidate for the revered traditional position.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House maintains that their approach followed established Yoruba traditional practices while acknowledging the government's authority in overseeing chieftaincy matters within the state.
