With the interment of the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, completed on Monday, attention has now shifted to the Fusengbuwa ruling house, the next in line to produce a successor.
The revered monarch, who passed on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was buried according to Islamic injunctions at his Igbeba GRA residence in Ijebu Ode.
His death marked the end of a 65-year reign that began on April 2, 1960, when he ascended the throne at just 26 years old, succeeding Oba Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II. Oba Adetona hailed from the Anikilaya family, one of the royal ruling houses in Ijebu Ode.
As tradition demands, the Fusengbuwa ruling house is next in turn, and signs of interest are already emerging from within the four royal families under its umbrella: Jadiara, Fusengbuwa, Bubiade, and Tunwase.
Sources revealed that several interested princes from these ruling houses have begun positioning themselves ahead of the official declaration, even as Ijebu land still mourns the departed monarch.
Speaking with the Punch shortly after the monarch’s burial, the Secretary of the Tunwase ruling house and Under-Secretary of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prince Kazeem Ahmed, confirmed that some contenders have started showing signs of interest in stepping into the shoes of the late Oba.
He said, “We have four royal houses and they are Jadiara, being the eldest followed by Fusengbuwa, Bubiade and then Tunwase.
“After the mourning of our highly revered king who has just been interred, this could be three months or more, people who have an interest in becoming the next Awujale from the four ruling houses of Fusengbuwa, Jadiara, Tunwase and Bubiade will begin to make known their intentions.
“We shall then take a look at those who have shown their intentions, check out their characters and influence in the community before we recommend them to the kingmakers.”
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Prince Ahmed disclosed that interest in the stool had been expressed even before the king’s passing, noting that the families were preparing for what comes next.
“We have been seeing some of them showing interest before the demise of the king. Many people don’t want interregnum, so, left for me, I would suggest that maybe after we mourn the king for four months, then the floor can be declared open in preparation for the next king.
“We will have many people who will declare interest, but the family committee will prune and screen them down to a sizeable number of candidates to be presented to the kingmakers,” he said.
However, not all within the palace are comfortable discussing succession at this time.
A senior palace chief who spoke with the Punch on condition of anonymity said it was too early to focus on a replacement for the late monarch while the land is still grieving.
He noted, however, that whoever emerges as the next Awujale would be expected to sustain the pace and quality of leadership shown by Oba Adetona.
“It’s too early to begin to talk about getting a replacement for the late monarch. The entire Ijebu land is still mourning.
“But I am sure that the system will not allow just anybody to take the throne. The next Awujale will have the responsibility of continuing the many developmental strides initiated by Kabiyesi,” he said.
In the meantime, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Olorogun Sunny Kuku, will serve as regent and oversee the day-to-day administration of Ijebu land until a new monarch emerges.
He is also expected to coordinate and guide the transition process, working with the royal families and kingmakers to ensure a smooth and peaceful emergence of the next custodian of the Ijebu cultural heritage.
