…..Raises Concern Over Government Intervention and Delay in Selection Process

The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the family expected to produce the next Awujale of Ijebuland, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, has denied allegations that he received money from any of the 95 candidates shortlisted for consideration in the process of selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Owoyemi made the clarification at a press conference held at his private residence, where he addressed issues surrounding the ongoing selection process and the controversy over its prolonged suspension.

The Olori Ebi said he could confidently state that none of the candidates had access to his bank account details and that he had not received money, either in cash or through any other means, from any candidate.

“Let me say this because I am a man of integrity. I can boldly say that none of the candidates for the selection process has my bank details. I can also boldly say that I did not receive any money in cash from any of the candidates.

“Even when the state government became aware that the Fusengbuwa family collected money for forms from the candidates, we were directed to refund the money, which we did. We also sent proof of the refunds to the state government.”

Owoyemi also shed light on the selection process, dismissing reports that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House submitted multiple lists to the kingmakers because the family was divided into three units.

According to him, the ruling house submitted only one list to the kingmakers.

He explained that after the list was submitted, the kingmakers, known as the Afobajes, had seven days within which to work on it. However, he said the process was interrupted on the second day.

“With the list submitted to the kingmakers, they had seven days to work on it. But on the second day of working on the list by the Afobajes, instructions came from Abeokuta from the state government.

“First, the palace was locked, which prevented the Afobajes from continuing their work on the list. Later, a letter was received from the local government stating that there were complaints or petitions relating to security concerns. Up till today, we have not seen those complaints.”

Owoyemi said the Fusengbuwa family initially expected that the issues would be resolved and that the selection process would resume shortly. However, he noted that the process has now been stalled for about seven months.

He said the ruling house had written to the Ogun State Governor, appealing for the process to continue, arguing that prolonged delays could affect the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the overall process of selecting the new Awujale.

Owoyemi further disclosed that members of the ruling house later met with the governor at Iperu, but, according to him, no petition or supporting documents were presented to them during the meeting.

He said the family subsequently received an invitation from Eleweran, which they honoured, where they were informed of a petition allegedly requiring the police to investigate the family over claims that money had been received from candidates.

Owoyemi, however, denied the allegation and questioned the basis of the petition.

He said the alleged petition did not, in his account, specify the amount of money supposedly collected or identify any candidate who allegedly gave him money.

“Nobody is bold enough from among the candidates to say that I have his bank details or that I received money from him,” he said.

The Olori Ebi also recalled that the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, had carefully selected the Afobajes based on their character and integrity, saying the late monarch chose people he believed would conduct the process without compromising it.

Owoyemi therefore appealed to the Ogun State Government to allow the kingmakers to continue with the selection process, saying the process should be allowed to proceed so that the appropriate candidate can emerge as the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

He maintained that resolving the issues surrounding the selection process and allowing the kingmakers to complete their assignment would be in the interest of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the Ijebu people and the traditional institution.