Caption : Fassy Yusuf
As preparations intensify for the selection of Awujale of Ijebuland, a new faction within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has declared itself the “original” Fusengbuwa Ruling House,
The declaration was made yesterday during a news briefing at the Oba Adesimbo Tunwase Museum & Hall, Agunsebi, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The new faction led by Chief Fassy Yusuf, comprises Jadiara Royal House, Bubiade Royal House, Tunwase Royal House and Fusengbuwa Royal House.
Yusuf, who addressed reporters, said the appellation “original” was adopted to distinguish the group without denying membership of other family branches.
He said the purpose of the gathering was to announce the end of the mourning period for the late monarch, Oba Sikiru Adetona, which would formally end on October 11.
With the mourning period ending, he said the family must begin implementing the provisions of the declaration made under Section 4 (2) of the Chiefs Law 1957, Customary Law Regulating the Selection to the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy.
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The declaration, which he read aloud, identifies the four ruling houses as Gbelegbuwa, Anikinlaiya, Fusengbuwa and Fidipote, in that order of rotation.
Responding to questions on the Folagbade Adenuga group’s claim of Abidagba status, Yusuf maintained that Folagbade was not listed among the four ruling houses in the declaration, and therefore should align with its appropriate branch.
Speaking on the issue of leadership, he said the “original” group had not yet announced a family head, but is represented by himself as coordinator and Pastor Prince Bola Salami as secretary.
Membership registration forms and expression of interest forms for candidates aspiring to the Awujale stool were also unveiled at the briefing. While the forms are free, a voluntary support contribution of N2,000 was suggested for the family database registration.
Chief Yusuf addressed the rift with Otunba Owoyemi, explaining that the earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed between Dr. Adekunle Hassan’s group and Owoyemi had made the latter head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, with Yusuf as deputy and Salami as secretary.
However, he said Owoyemi’s subsequent alignment with the Ajidagba branch violated the spirit of that agreement.
“The world is dynamic, change is imminent, and the dynamics of change may also change tomorrow,” Yusuf remarked. “But for now, this is the situation we have found ourselves.”
The briefing was attended by Otunba Odedina Emmanuel, Oloriebi of Jadiara; Prince Adewale Jadesinmi, Oloriebi of Bubiade; Prince Bolarinde Salami, Secretary of the group; Chief G.A. Sanni, Balogun of Esugbon; and Oba Prof. Titilayo Hassan, Elesugbon of Esugbon, along with several other members of the four recognised branches—Jadiara, Bubiade, Tunwase and Fusengbuwa.
