Fusengbuwa Ruling House Dismisses KWAM1’s Protest Over Awujale Selection
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu land has pushed back strongly against claims by Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, that he is being deliberately sidelined in the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Ayinde, through a protest letter dated January 8, 2026, addressed to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and authored by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), alleged that the ruling house had introduced procedures inconsistent with the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He argued that the directives were calculated to exclude him from contesting for the vacant stool.
However, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House dismissed the allegations, describing them as unfounded and misleading. Speaking on Sunday, the Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, rejected the protest and faulted the logic behind the claims.
“It is a misguided letter. Either Wahab Shittu is being misled or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. It is arrant nonsense.
The letter was directed to the government, so they will respond appropriately. The issue being raised about the screening is illogical. We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house. How does he expect us to manage the crowd? What is being talked about is illogical,” Yusuf said.
He added that the ruling house had scheduled Monday for the nomination meeting of aspirants seeking the revered traditional position.
The race for the Awujale stool, which became vacant in July last year following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at 91 after a 65-year reign, has reportedly drawn more than 60 aspirants. Ayinde has publicly declared interest in the throne, a move that has further heightened attention around the succession process.
Despite his interest, the Fusengbuwa family maintained that the musician is not a recognised member of the ruling house and therefore lacks the qualification to participate in the nomination exercise.
Ayinde had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an interim injunction to halt the selection process involving the governor and six others.
The court declined the request, ruling that the application lacked merit. The suit was later withdrawn by his legal team without explanation.
Following an intervention by the Ogun State Government, the ruling house suspended the initial nomination exercise and subsequently restarted the process.
In a fresh letter to the governor, Ayinde stated that the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, through a letter dated January 6, 2026, and signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, authorised the ruling house to begin the selection process.
He expressed surprise that, while family members were preparing for a meeting, the Public Relations Officer of the ruling house, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, issued a notice directing aspirants to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga.
Ayinde further questioned the directive fixing the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, while also providing that nominations would be conducted by delegates chosen at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
His lawyer, Dr. Shittu, raised concerns over the process, stating:
“It is a matter of deep concern to our client that all the illegal directives, unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration, the Obas and Chiefs Law, and the letter of the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, were included in the family’s letter to the Local Government dated January 6, 2026.
It is clear that there are plans by the leadership of the ruling house to disenfranchise members who wish to participate in the nomination of candidates for the Awujale stool.”
He added that Ayinde viewed the directives as deliberate efforts to shut him out of the process.
“We wish to emphasise that all members of the ruling house are entitled to attend this important meeting to nominate candidates of their choice. A group of people in the ruling house cannot usurp the rights of members to freely nominate candidates. The attempt by certain individuals to hijack the nomination process will certainly create a crisis in what should be a seamless exercise.
“We state in specific terms that the directive providing for screening of candidates and nomination by delegates is not only inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the Chieftaincy Declaration but also with the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021. We counsel that in the larger interest of justice and compliance with due process, you take timely steps to address these fundamental concerns capable of affecting the integrity of the entire process.”
The letter further warned against any move to bar the musician from the process:
“In particular, our client is concerned that certain elements are attempting to exclude him from the process in flagrant violation of the law, and this will be resisted. We hope your intervention will ensure that justice is done to all parties involved, including our client.”
As of press time, efforts to obtain the Ogun State Government’s official reaction were unsuccessful, as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, had yet to respond to enquiries.
