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By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta

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‎The newly Olori – Ebi of Funsegbuwa ruling house of Ijebu – Ode, Otunba Abdul – Lateef Owoyemi, has assured that the royal family would follow the wise counsel of Awujale of Ijebuland, late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who advised few years ago before his passing that the throne should not be sold to the “money bags” to occupy.

The Daily Crucible reports that the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (Ogbagba II), had on August 13, 2019 advised his people to “go for a capable successor” whenever he joined his ancestors.

The octogenarian ascended the throne in 1960 at the age of 25/26 from the Anikilaya Ruling family and joined his ancestors in July 13, 2025. He was 91.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is next in line to produce his successor.

Oba Adetona, apparently not desirous of having Ijebu land slide into retrogression after over six decades of monumental progress, development, peace and unity, urged his people to sustain the tempo by ensuring that the throne does not slip into the hand of a money bag.

The revered monarch gave the advice in Ijebu-Ode while delivering his speech at the conclusion of 2019 Ojude Oba Cultural Festival/Carnival where he urged Ijebu sons and daughters to reject any candidate who could set Ijebu land backward, if enthroned as the king.

Dignitaries at the event were over 25,000 people, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi(now late), Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, Deputy Governor Noimot Oyedele-Salako, former Governors Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, former Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun, Sir Kensington Adebutu (who was the special guest of honour), Chief Ayo Adebanjo(now late) and Olori Kemi Adetona, among others.

The Awujale spoke Yoruba at the time and advised his people on how the process of selecting the next Awujale should follow.

Oba Adetona had said: “When I eventually go, please, go for a capable successor. Reject any candidate that will put Ijebu land into retrogression. Do not politicise the process of selecting my successor. Do not go for people that will draw Ijebu backwards.

“If the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, please, reject them and go for the next ruling house with a capable candidate. Do not go for money bags that will destroy the achievements Ijebu land has recorded so far.

“My prayer is that Ijebu land will continue to grow from strength to strength. Call on God for direction when picking my successor. Ask God to guide you.”

However, referencing the warning, Owoyemi who is also the Otunba Jadiara of Ijebuland said that heeding the timely advice of the late nonagenarian monarch remains the best way to select the right and competent successor – Awujale, who would sustain and consolidate the rapid growth, development, peace and unity trajectory Oba Adetona had bequeathed to the Ijebu nation.

The former President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) spoke on Saturday at his Afin Otunba Jadiara Palace, Idowa country home, Ogun State while briefing reporters on the task before him which is building unity within the Fusengbuwa ruling house and working to bring dissenting voices to toe the path of peace and harmony.

He said this is crucial so as to enable the princes and princess speak with one voice at the appropriate time when making nominations for the vacant throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland.

Asked if the Ruling house would heed to the earlier counsel of the late revered monarch that ‘money bags’ should not be allowed to highjack the throne or succeed him during the press briefing which had in attendance members of the Elders Council of the royal family, including Prince Ayinde Kazeem, Prince Adebisi Quadri and Prince Fetuga Taiwo, the Olori – Ebi assured that the Oba Adetona’s advice would be followed.

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The Olori – Ebi said, ‎”It is not that he(late Oba Adetona) told us, he said it openly during Ojude Oba Day because on that particular day, there were some big men on the high table some of whom said they have budgeted N1bn to be able to become next Awujale and the Awujale then said, ‘Governor and all of you here, I don’t know how soon God may call me home but it came to my hearing that some money bags want to buy their way to the Obaship. Please, don’t allow them. If you allow them, Ijebu – Ode will go down. Go and pick the right person, fit and proper to rule Ijebu – Ode so that he can elevate it. If you don’t do it, don’t say, I didn’t warn you. Let the kingmakers appoint whoever that is competent, capable and qualified to occupy the position. If it happened that the ruling house that is next in line, there is no suitable person because of crisis, the opportunity will go to the next ruling house to look for suitable person.’

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‎”So far, in our unit, we have seen eight likely candidates and they have come to see us with money and in every case we rejected it, we let them know that we are not going to accept any money from anybody. If anybody becomes Awujale and comes back to thanks us with gifts, it is understandable but not before he becomes an Awujale.”

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‎He said the task before him is to unite all the various units of Fusengbuwa ruling house, bring dissenting voices into the family as one ahead of nomination of candidates for the throne of Awujale of Ijebuland, stressing that his goal is to build harmony and peace in the house and not controversy.

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‎”We are just going to moderate the family to make sure we go to the family meeting as one to make nominations. We are not going to appoint Awujale. We don’t have the power. We can only make nominations and if nominations are made and seconded, it goes down into record. If they are too many, we will do screening otherwise, the kingmakers will do their selection.

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‎”And the declaration is unique. It says if the family cannot meet together to nominate candidates, each unit can have its own meeting to nominate candidates. The kingmakers will have the duty of appointing an Awujale from the whole list whoever they want to be the Awujale. That is the end of the matter. It also says that the kingmakers – 13 of them – must be unanimous in their decision, ” he said.

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