- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 90 princes and princesses have declared interest in the vacant stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House screened the contenders.
NPO Reported that the demise of Oba Sikiru Adetona had left the throne vacant as growing speculations surrounded who the next Awujale would be.
While renowned Nigerian fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde, popular known as KWAM, had initially being at the centre of the speculations following his declaration of interest in the stool, his rejection by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House however knocked him out of the contest.
The rejection of such prominent figure had left the contest more unpredictive.
However, many contestants would on Monday storm the ruling house nomination meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
According to reports, the nomination meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy and Vice, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba and Prof Fassy Yusuf respectively.
Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke and some other officials of the local government area.
Some of the contestants who have been tipped to emerge as the new Awujale include Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, the husband to former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Dr Kunle Hassan, a renowned Ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital, Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction; Abimbola Onabanjo, CEO of Kleensteps Holding, Extol Securities; and Princess Oluwakemi Onanuga, a lawyer and only female contestant amongst others.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the family head of Fusengbuwa, Otunba Owoyemi, said that with the conclusion of the nomination process, the responsibility has now shifted to the kingmakers to select the next Awujale from a total of 95 aspirants.
He disclosed that a new Awujale will be announced in the coming month, adding that the contestants had earlier signed an agreement to accept the outcome of the selection process.
“We have successfully, peacefully and harmoniously nominated our candidates, 95 of them. It is now left in the hands of the kingmakers to do a very good job conscientiously and pick one of them as the next Awujale.
“In the next month, we should have the next Awujale.” He said.