Head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, has said the process for selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland has not started, dismissing claims that a screening committee was already in place.
Owoyemi stated that the ruling house was still working behind the scenes to establish a credible process that would guarantee a transparent and widely accepted outcome.
He made this known on Friday while hosting the Tunwase family, led by Mr. R.O. Shonibare, at his Idowa country home in Odogbolu Local Government, Ogun State.
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Fusengbuwa ruling house is expected to produce the next Awujale following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who reigned for 65 years before passing away on July 13 at the age of 91.
“We are yet to design screening forms, agree on fees, or decide on the number of aspirants each family should present. Nothing has been concluded. People may claim to be setting up committees elsewhere, but Fusengbuwa ruling house has not,” he stated.
Owoyemi stressed that the throne would not be sold, warning that excessive financial demands could corrupt the process, just as in politics.
“We must ensure only the best candidate emerges in a transparent and acceptable way,” he added.
He further appealed to the Ogun State Government and the kingmakers to work in alignment with the ruling house for the sake of Ijebu’s unity and progress.
Speaking earlier, Shonibare pledged the loyalty of the Tunwase family to Owoyemi’s leadership.