Leaders and members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu Ode, has warned against any attempt to frustrate the royal family from filling the vacant stool of the revered vacant seat of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
Rising from the enlarged meeting of princes and princesses of the family held at the Ike Nla Agunsebi, Ijebu Ode, on Saturday, the family declared that it remained united and determined to produce the next Awujale.
The meeting, which was convened to deliberate on the stalled selection process for the next Awujale, was co-chaired by Otunba Abdulateef Adebayo Owoyemi, Chairman/Head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House Family; Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, Deputy Chairman; and Professor Fassy Yusuf, Vice Chairman.
The leaders while briefing the meeting said those in attendance were drawn from the various units of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, and that the meeting became imperative in order to inform them on developments surrounding the stalled selection process and the legal steps being taken to address the delay.
Recall that a court action was instituted against Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, nine Ijebu-Ode kingmakers and five other defendants, praying for the order of the court to compel the defendants to conclude the selection process.
At the end of the meeting, members endorsed decisions previously taken by the ruling house leadership and expressed renewed confidence in its ability to steer the family through the ongoing process.
The family head, Otunba Owoyemi, said the gathering was primarily aimed at updating members on the situation and explaining the steps taken by the leadership to protect the interests of the ruling house.
He lauded members of the family for turning out in their numbers, an indication that the family remained united.
‘The meeting was called to update and brief members of Fusengbuwa Ruling House about the stalled selection process for the next Awujale and the steps we have taken to address the issue.
‘The large attendance is an attestation of unity. The house is united. Princes and princesses came from Lagos and other places. They supported our decision and they have confidence in our leadership and the things we are doing,’ the former ICAN president said.
Owoyemi alleged that some individuals were working to frustrate the ruling house’s effort to produce the next Awujale, saying such actions could ultimately be used to question the house’s eligibility to produce the monarch.
‘Our enemies are those who want to spoil things so that they will come back to say our ruling house cannot produce the next Awujale again,’ he said.
The ruling house leadership maintained that its current legal action was aimed at ensuring that the established selection process was concluded and that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was allowed to exercise what it described as its legitimate opportunity in the succession process.
The family leaders urged members to remain calm, focused and united as the legal process continues, while reaffirming their commitment to pursuing the matter through lawful means.
The meeting ended with members reaffirming their support for the leadership and its decisions concerning the succession process.