It has been exactly one year since the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, joined his ancestors on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91. Having spent 65 years on the throne after his installation at the age of 26, his passing marked the end of an era. Yet, twelve months later, the race to fill the highly revered stool remains stalled by intense royal rivalries, police investigations, and repeated state government interventions.
Following the late monarch’s demise, the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode held a nomination meeting where 95 aspirants—comprising 94 princes and one princess—indicated interest in the vacant throne. Among the prominent contenders are Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of former Ogun State Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga; renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Kunle Hassan; industrialist Otunba Fatai Arowolo; and a female lawyer, Oluwakemi Onanuga.
The selection process quickly ran into complications when Fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, expressed interest in the throne. The Fusengbuwa family dismissed his claims, stating he was not a member of the ruling house. In response, the musician approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode to seek an injunction stopping Governor Dapo Abiodun and others from proceeding with the selection.
The Ogun State Government has repeatedly stepped in to manage the unfolding crisis. In December 2025, the government cancelled the initial selection process and ordered a restart. Although it gave the green light for the ruling house to resume in early January 2026, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs suspended the process again on January 20, citing security concerns and petitions from security agencies.
Further complicating the transition, nine Ijebu-Ode kingmakers were invited by the State Police Command in April 2026 over allegations of bribery and financial inducement during the selection process. This followed a previous police probe in February that was dropped after intervention by higher authorities. Chief Abimbola Okenla, the Kakanfo of Ijebuland and one of the affected kingmakers, defended his colleagues, calling the frequent police invitations a distraction and pleading with Governor Abiodun to lift the suspension so they could complete their traditional duties.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Alhaji Abdulateef Owoyemi, appealed for the suspension to be lifted, arguing that security agencies had found no evidence of wrongdoing against the kingmakers or the ruling house. Due to the prolonged delay, the famous 2026 Ojude Oba festival was celebrated without an Awujale on the throne.
Tensions flared again recently over a purported letter allegedly written by the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, nominating five princes for the governor's consideration. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, urged the public to ignore the document, reiterating that the official selection process remains suspended. Chief Adesanya also distanced himself from the letter, suggesting it was forged to tarnish his reputation.
The current impasse stands in stark contrast to the explicit wishes of the late monarch. Years before his passing, Oba Adetona had strongly warned against the politicization of his stool, urging the kingmakers to avoid "moneybags" and reject any candidate who would bring retrogression to Ijebuland, regardless of their financial or political influence.
