Ogun Govt Suspends Awujale Selection Amid Alleged Bias for Non-Indigene Dr. Hassan

The Ogun State Government has indefinitely suspended the nomination process for a new Awujale of Ijebuland, invoking security concerns just as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House prepared to select candidates. This dramatic halt, announced on December 10, 2025, has ignited fresh allegations of political meddling, with traditionalists claiming the move shields a predetermined choice: Dr. Adetona Kunle Hassan, a physician from Ilesha in Osun State allegedly lacking direct ties to Ijebu’s royal lineages.

Historical precedents demand that only male descendants from the eight Fusengbuwa lineages—traced to Prince Fusengbuwa, son of the first Awujale, Lenuwa—can ascend the throne. Critics, including elders from the Owoyemi and Ajidagba factions, argue Dr. Hassan’s outsider status disqualifies him outright. “This is a subversion of our customs,” declared Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, a key influencer in the ruling house, in a statement to journalists. Yet, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration appears to back Hassan, reportedly through Professor Fassy Yusuf, Vice Chairman of the Ijebu Traditional Council.

Government Interference and Invented Roles

Professor Yusuf’s recent visit to the Fusengbuwa elders has drawn sharp rebuke. He defended the interactions as a safeguard against litigation, insisting they ensure a “hitch-free” selection compliant with the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law. Detractors accuse him of downplaying deeper motives, including the creation of new positions within the ruling house that sideline the traditional Olori Ebi (family head) and the Awujale Ruling Houses-in-Council.

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These maneuvers, sources say, aim to consolidate support for Hassan ahead of any resumption. The government’s suspension letter, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, cited “threats to lives and property” from intra-house skirmishes—clashes that reportedly intensified after factional meetings on December 8.

Factional Rifts, Bribery Claims, and Religious Undertones

Deep divisions plague the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. Otunba Owoyemi and Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, once aligned, now lead opposing camps. Ajidagba faces accusations of accepting bribes from aspirants, while some members push female descendants or less generous males over frontrunners like the Ajidagba lineage’s preferred candidate.

Adding controversy, Hassan’s Christian faith—linked to shared church ties with the Christian-majority governor and some kingmakers—has surfaced as a flashpoint. Despite his Muslim-sounding surname, opponents fear it creates a veneer of balance, shielding the pick from Ijebu Muslims. Tradition has never hinged on religion; past Awujales like Oba Sikiru Adetona embodied Ijebu unity beyond faith.

No charges have been filed, but the rift risks legal battles, echoing past chieftaincy disputes in Ogun. As Ijebuland watches, the government’s role raises questions: Is this protection of tradition or imposition of an anointed outsider?