The Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, has cautioned the three other ruling houses in Ijebu Ode against any actions that could disrupt the traditional process of selecting a new Awujale of Ijebuland.

The Awujale stool—held for 65 years by Oba Sikiru Adetona of the Anikilaya ruling house until his death on July 13 at age 91—rotates among four ruling houses: Fidipote, Gbelegbuwa, Anikilaya, and Fusengbuwa. With Anikilaya having produced the last monarch, the Fusengbuwa house is next in line.

Speaking virtually on Tuesday during a visit by elders of the Fusengbuwa family, led by their head, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, Alebiosu warned that the government would not tolerate interference from the other houses.

His remarks came after Owoyemi alleged that members of the Fidipote, Gbelegbuwa, and Anikilaya ruling houses were meddling in the internal affairs of the Fusengbuwa family and sowing discord.

Owoyemi, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, told the council:

“We appeal to you to convene an urgent meeting with the leaders of the three other ruling houses and request them to leave Fusengbuwa alone to resolve our differences. They should stop fanning the embers of discord or promoting the diabolical efforts of a dissident unit bent on undermining the entire family.

“Fusengbuwa has never interfered in the affairs of the other houses. In the name of Almighty God and in reverence for our noble ancestors, they must stop meddling. Their actions are setting a dangerous precedent with foreseeable disastrous consequences.”

In response, Alebiosu maintained that tradition must be upheld, stressing that the throne rightly belongs to the Fusengbuwa family at this time.

“I want to assure you that the government is on top of everything. We won’t allow or encourage any unbecoming act. This is not a banana republic, and no interloper will be allowed. Each ruling house has its turn, and now it is Fusengbuwa’s turn. The family has capable sons to occupy the stool, and the right thing will be done,” he said.

He added that the matter would be reported to the governor and promised to review documents submitted by the Fusengbuwa ruling house.

Dignitaries at the meeting included the Dagburewe of Idowa Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Okuribido; the Saderiren of Isoyin, Oba Abdurasheed Salami; and the Onirete of Irete, Oba Abdulganiyu Awokoya-Yesufu, among others.