94 Princes, One Princess Jostle For Awujale Stool
Not fewer than 95 people, consisting of 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode, on Monday emerged as contestants for the vacant stool of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land.
The contestants emerged at a nomination meeting held by the ruling house at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi; his deputy, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba; and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, presided over the nomination meeting.
The Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke, and some other local government officials were present as observers.
Some of the contestants include Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Dr Kunle Hassan, a renowned ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital; and Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction, among others.
The only female contestant is Oluwakemi Onanuga, a lawyer.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the demise of the 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.
The contestants at the nomination meeting were represented by two of their relatives.
One of the relations moved the motion for the nomination, while the other seconded it, after which the family registered the nomination as accepted.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the nomination meeting, the family head of Fusengbuwa, Owoyemi, lauded family members for conducting themselves peacefully and ensuring that nothing untoward occurred that could jeopardise the nomination process.
Owoyemi said that, just as the Ifa oracle had foretold, the family was working across the board to ensure that whoever would assume the vacant Awujale stool would further take Ijebu land to greater heights.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
