…Commends Fusengbuwa Ruling House for Preserving Historical Integrity
The Baamofin of Ijebuland and respected legal practitioner, Barr. AbdulWasiu Oduwole, has called on the Ogun State Government and Ijebu-Ode kingmakers to ensure strict adherence to the law and established tradition as the process for selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland commences.
Speaking during an interview with journalists at his Degun, Ijebu-Ode office, Oduwole emphasized that neutrality, transparency, and respect for due process remain critical to preserving the sanctity of the revered stool.
He noted that the Chiefs Law of 1957 provides clear guidelines for succession, including rotational ascendancy among the four ruling houses and recognition of both male and female lines.
“The law is flexible. If no eligible candidate emerges from the male line, the female line may be considered. A male child from the female lineage is also qualified once legitimacy within the ruling house is established,” he said.
Oduwole commended the Ijebu-Ode kingmakers for their longstanding reputation for integrity, expressing confidence in their ability to follow the law and avoid corrupt influences. He reiterated the warning of the immediate past Awujale, urging the kingmakers to resist moneybags and produce a candidate of unquestionable character.
He equally praised the Fusengbuwa ruling house for conducting themselves with decorum as the process begins, acknowledging their respect for tradition and their cooperation with the kingmakers.
According to him, the arrival of the staff of office to the ruling house marks the official commencement of the succession process. Once in possession of this authority, the ruling house is required to work with the kingmakers to present a candidate to the government for final approval.
“The government has no direct role at this stage. It is the responsibility of the family and the kingmakers to select a candidate strictly in line with the law, the declaration, and established customs,” he said.
Oduwole also addressed the documents recently distributed to the ruling house and kingmakers, explaining that they were released based on instructions from the late Prince Adebisi Obanlefa, former Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.
“In 1995, the late Baba Obanlefa entrusted some papers to me with the directive that if he passed on before it became the turn of the Fusengbuwa family, I should make them available to guide the process. I have now fulfilled that promise,” he said.
He added that the documents clearly outline three succession sections recognized under the law—Abidagba Male, Abidagba Female, and Abidoye.
Recalling his work with the late Obanlefa, he said they once retrieved key archival records from Abeokuta containing the history of the Fusengbuwa family and the four ruling houses, obtaining certified true copies that remain vital to the Awujale institution.
As the selection process intensifies, Oduwole appealed for fairness, transparency, and unwavering respect for tradition.
“The process must run naturally and with integrity. No individual, group, or political force should influence the kingmakers. I wish all contestants well,” he said.
