Ije̩bu-Ode on Edge as Battle for Sacred Throne Intensifies

 

Protests Rock City after govt halted Awujale Selection, DSS summons 90 aspirants

​A high-stakes standoff between ancient tradition and state power reached a breaking point on Friday, as thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Ijebu Ode to protect the sanctity of the vacant Awujale stool.

​What was intended to be a seamless transition for one of Yorubaland’s most revered monarchies has instead descended into a volatile face-off.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House’s list of 90 eligible princes—a testament to the depth of the royal lineage—now sits in a bureaucratic limbo after the Ogun State Government ordered an indefinite freeze on the selection process.

​Key Flashpoints of the Crisis:

• ​The Street Revolt: Residents marched on the Local Government Secretariat, alleging a plot by the state to “impose” a hand-picked candidate against the will of the people.
• ​Security Scrutiny: In an unprecedented move, royal aspirants were reportedly summoned to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters, fueling rumors of political intimidation.
• ​The Official Defense: Commissioner Ganiyu Hamzat insists the “pause” is a legal necessity to prevent future litigation, while Regent Olorogun Sunny Kuku maintains the Governor is acting only as a neutral peacemaker.

​As the kingmakers wait for “security reports” and the government cites “procedural errors,” the people of Ijebu Ode have made their stance clear: The crown belongs to the lineage, not the cabinet.