In the midst of the prolonged and increasingly contentious delay in selecting a new Awujale of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Prince Adekunle Adenuga, grandson of Alayeluwa Oba Theophilus Adenuga Tuwase Folagbade, has assured the people of Ijebu that the selection of a new Awujale will be decided by the Kingmakers, not the Ogun State governor.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, on Monday, he said the stalemate is rooted in legal and procedural complexities rather than politics alone.
“The governor … will most likely advise us but he’s not going to choose a king for us. The king to be appointed by our governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, will have been nominated by the Kingmakers. So I think the Kingmakers are the ones to take the decision.”
Prince Adenuga confirmed that the process, which was halted by the Ogun State government in December shortly after ruling houses submitted nominations to the Kingmakers, remains suspended. He insisted that compliance with the relevant proclamation and custom must guide the next steps.
“As we are all aware, the Ogun State government halted the process during or after the nomination had been submitted to the Kingmakers and the report we had was that it was based on petitions and complaints the government have access to. So I think that is the technical status of the process as of now. The Kingmakers, to my knowledge, are probably complying with that in altering the process and I think we just need to wait until the government says otherwise,” he said.
Recall that the nomination exercise, which witnessed the submission of over 90 names from various ruling houses in Ijebuland, was stopped by the state government amid allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the exercise. The government cited petitions and complaints as the reasons for interrupting the process.
The delay has extended beyond earlier suspension periods, leaving stakeholders and the Ijebu public in a state of heightened expectation. For many, this represents the second or third disruption in the royal succession process, raising concerns over transparency and fairness.
When asked how long the public should wait, Prince Adenuga appealed for patience, suggesting the suspension reflects efforts to prevent future legal battles and guarantee due process.
“Government took that decision in good faith, and we believe when they are through with whatever assessment is being done, they are likely to call off the suspension and allow the process to recommence. A lot of people, through media consultations, are also reaching out to the government to ensure that the process goes on. So I think we should all be patient and hopeful that very soon,” he stated.
Petitions and Their Impact on the Suspension
The role of petitions in provoking the government’s intervention has become a central theme in the controversy. Some aspirants and family stakeholders have alleged bribery and improper conduct during nominations. However, Prince Adenuga clarified that he and his immediate family, the Folagbade descendants, did not file any petition after the nominations were submitted.
“I and my immediate family, the Folagbade descendants, never sent any petition after the nomination. Of course, we raised some issues before the nomination, which was last year. We made a press conference and communicated with the government at that time,” he said.
Pressed on whether that earlier communication triggered the government’s decision, Adenuga insisted it was intended to prevent future complications, not to derail the process.
“When we raised some issues, whether I want to regard it as petition or not, it was because of our fear that similar things that are happening now will happen. And the major content of our petition at that time was for the government to ensure that only eligible candidates and families participate in the process.”
He stated that petitions lodged after nominations are likely what the government is acting upon. “Oh, some raised petition after the nomination. And you know, there are some petitions outside of which the government also admitted that they are acting based on petitions. So definitely they cannot be acting based on our own petitions last year, if there are no new ones.”
Allegations of Government Interference and Confidence in the Process
Questions have arisen about whether the government’s suspension amounts to undue interference in a traditional matter. Prince Adenuga maintained that the government is acting within its legal authority and emphasized the statutory framework governing the process.
“You see, the beauty of the process is that it is being guided by law. Like you rightly said, the Kingmakers by the law has seven days to make a decision. I’m also aware that even when they make a decision, and they send it to the governor, the governor has 21 days, three weeks to either confirm the appointment or to reject it,” he explained.
He added, “According to the report of the government, what they said is that they were trying to prevent unnecessary litigations.”
Understanding Eligibility Under the New Declaration
Prince Adenuga offered a detailed explanation of eligibility criteria under the current succession declaration, illustrating the complexity of the law with analogies.
“Eligibility can be broad and can be narrow … just like taking a federation, for instance, if you look at what it takes for you to be a Nigerian, and to be the president of Nigeria, it starts by saying that a candidate must be a Nigerian. But … you must fulfill additional requirements,” he said.
He clarified that the declaration is a written law that requires candidates to come from eligible ruling houses and, generally, the male line, with provisions for the female line only where no eligible male exists in that family.
“It says the candidate must be a member of the ruling house and it also outlines conditions under which a female line may be considered — only if there is no eligible male line in that family. In addition, it extends qualifications to include grandchildren of a king under specific conditions.”
According to Adenuga, this legal framework explains why more than 90 candidates emerged — an unprecedented situation in the history of Awujale succession.
“In the past, the issue of male line was not prominent. So now we are getting that issue now. It’s not a matter of being a child alone. A grandchild, a dual grandchild can be qualified as long as it falls from that male line. So we hope that reasoning will prevail.”
Kingmakers Under Pressure
Prince Adenuga emphasized that the Kingmakers, constituted under the new declaration, hold the decisive role in selecting eligible candidates.
“The governor will most likely advise us but he’s not going to choose a king for us. The king to be appointed by our governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, will have been nominated by the Kingmakers. So I think the Kingmakers are the ones to take the decision.”
He appealed for trust in their capacity. “And I believe they are learned. And they are also listening to all the various views. And being Ijebu, very educated, I’m sure they will want to do the right thing.”
Family Reactions and Internal Dynamics
Within his own family, the Folagbade lineage, Prince Adenuga revealed that responses to the ongoing dispute have been complex but increasingly unified.
“This is not an argument that is new … we actually raised it before [nominations]. And … at that time, their knowledge was that it’s the ruling house. So as long as you belong to the ruling house, even if they didn’t listen to us, we decided we’ll participate together, believing that the Kingmakers will do the needful,” he explained.
He said that despite earlier disagreements, family unity has strengthened. “One of the beautiful things about the process is that, at least for the lineage, everybody that contested or … that claimed to be family, we now saw ourselves as family. … There’s a plan to call a general meeting to look at some of these issues.”
On His Personal Chances and Vision
Asked how confident he is in his own prospects, Prince Adenuga declined to appear on the programme to campaign, stressing the importance of adherence to law and order.
“I’m not on your program to campaign. … I was invited and I think the reason why you invited us is because you are aware of our publicity in the past, in which we raised some of these issues. And for everybody that may have had those things at that time, they will have guessed that we are very right, because everything we said is now coming out.”
He noted that within his extended family, three direct descendants of Oba Theophilus Adenuga Tuwase Folagbade are among eligible contenders.
“Once you’ve been able to get the people that are eligible, now it takes personal preference … age, education and different things,” he said.
Possibility of Legal Recourse
When asked whether he would resort to the courts if the outcome is unfavorable, Adenuga said the law permits anyone to seek redress.
“Of course, our law permits that anybody that failed otherwise with a position will go to court. And I want to believe that the family also told that line, because it’s in the law itself.”
He reflected on the deep historical connections among ruling families, saying, “We are all related to different kings … if you link yourself to any king within the ruling house … somebody will say my first linked king is Oba Jadiara … My first linked king is Oba Fusengbuwa.
For instance, I’m the grandson of Oba of Folagbade. I’m the great-grandson of Obatuwase. I’m the great-grandson of Fusengbuwa. Now, you see, if you link yourself to any king, I mean, within the ruling house, somebody will say, oh, my first-linked king is Oba Jadiara. My first-linked king is Oba Fusengbuwa. The question you ask is that how did that king get to power? And you will discover all those things brought to the power. For instance, my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Oba Jadiara was initially a king Dagburewe of Idowa. But he had a root in Awujale, through his great-great-grandfather who was an initial Awujale that eventually, because of circumstances, went to establish another kingdom in Idowa.”
Historical Context of Awujale Succession
Prince Adenuga provided historical examples, including succession adjustments in the 19th and early 20th centuries, to demonstrate how customs evolved in response to age, colonial involvement, and other practical considerations.
He said these cases shed light on why the current declaration attempts to balance custom with broader eligibility.
Steps Taken to Resume the Process
When asked what steps he and other stakeholders have taken to persuade the government to resume the process, Adenuga said engagements have been largely quiet and procedural.
“We’ve been mutually quiet waiting for the government … The family itself, many contestants, are also looking that we should have a formal meeting,” he said, adding that while families can appeal to the government, they cannot compel it to recommence.
Security Agency Involvement and Allegations Against Kingmakers
On reports that some Kingmakers appeared before security agencies to “clear their names” amid bribery allegations, Adenuga said he is aware of the invitations but denied any involvement.
“I am aware we saw the invite and I’m sure they went … If we presume they are of integrity and they have the law before them, they will not spoil their name by violating the law,” he said.
He challenged assumptions that Kingmakers took money, stressing that the existence of petitions does not necessarily prove wrongdoing.
“If the government has found them guilty, I don’t know why there is still silence. Because if … they have done wrong and are able to confirm that they have done wrong, then silence is a little bit of concern.”
On Nomination Fees and Misconceptions
The interview also clarified confusion around claims that aspirants paid ₦10 million for nomination forms. Prince Adenuga denied paying such an amount, saying his faction did not participate in that payment structure.
“When we aligned with the unified group, the issue of ₦10 million was not there. So none of our own candidates paid it,” he said.
He affirmed that a smaller, non refundable fee of ₦250,000 was collected from all candidates to cover logistics and family meeting costs, not as payment for the title.
Looking Ahead: Hope Amid Uncertainty
As Governor Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun’s administration continues to navigate the legal and cultural complexities of selecting a new Awujale, many Ijebus are hopeful that a resolution balancing tradition, law, and fairness will soon be found.
“We should be patient, hopeful that very soon the government will clarify the position,” Prince Adekunle Adenuga concluded.
