The Jadiara Royal House, a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, has rejected a report purporting to identify Bode Onanuga, Bimbo Onabanjo and Folu Aderibigbe as the three candidates shortlisted for consultation in the succession to the vacant Awujale stool.
However, in a press statement dated August 10, 2026, and signed by Otunba Prince Akinola Odedina DBA, Oloriebi, Jadiara Royal House, the royal house described the report by Ikokore Reporters as misleading and without basis.
The royal house said Ikokore Reporters lacked the traditional, statutory and customary authority to determine or announce candidates for the Awujale stool. It stressed that the succession process must be handled by the appropriate traditional and statutory institutions in accordance with the customs and laws governing the stool.
It also categorically denied the existence of any three-candidate consensus, insisting that no such agreement had been reached.
According to the statement, the determination of qualified aspirants rests with the ruling house, kingmakers and other relevant institutions empowered to participate in the succession process.
The Jadiara Royal House called for strict adherence to due process, saying all qualified aspirants should be considered on the basis of established tradition and applicable law rather than through media campaigns or purported consensus-building outside the recognised institutions.
The royal house also dismissed allegations of a conspiracy to undermine the Awujale institution, challenging those making such claims to provide evidence rather than rely on speculation.
It further appealed for fairness and balance in media coverage of the succession process. The royal house specifically took exception to what it described as the dismissive and denigrating manner in which Ademorin Kuye was mentioned in the report, urging Ikokore Reporters and other media organisations to be fair, objective and provide equal treatment to all aspirants.
The statement also appealed to journalists, bloggers and members of the public to rely on official communications and refrain from circulating unverified information capable of creating unnecessary tension and division within Ijebuland.
On the role of the Ogun State Government, the Jadiara Royal House urged the government to carry out its responsibilities transparently and without pressure, allowing it to discharge its statutory duties in accordance with the law.
The royal house reaffirmed its commitment to peace, fairness and the preservation of the dignity of the Awujale institution. It said its ultimate objective was the lawful emergence of a new Awujale who would command the confidence and respect of the people of Ijebuland.
The statement adds to the ongoing public debate over the succession process following the vacancy of the Awujale stool, with various interests calling for transparency, fairness and strict adherence to the traditions and laws governing the selection of the next monarch.
