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The on-going selection process for the new Awujale of Ijebu land has again been put on hold by the Ogun State government. This is in addition to the locking up and deployment of heavy security, including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, at the Awujale palace.
Recall that the Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 after the demise of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.
The government, in a statement on Wednesday signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat and which had since gone viral, said that the selection process was halted due to the flood of petitions received from security agencies and other stakeholders.
The statement partly reads “I write in respect of the ongoing process for the selection of a new Awujale of ljebuland.
“As you are aware, the Awujale stool is a foremost stool in Yoruba land generally and in Ogun State particularly, where it is one of the paramount stools.
“Further, the stature of the immediate past Awujale, Oba SikiruAdetona, who reigned for sixty-five (65) years, significantly enhanced the modern esteem and prestige of the stool.
“These realities place a lot of focus, attention and scrutiny on the next Awujale and the process by which he emerges.
“In this regard, the State Government has received several petitions, reports from security agencies and other key stakeholders in relation to the ongoing selection process.
“In order to maintain public order, protect the integrity of the process, and maintain the veneration of the stool, it has become imperative to halt the selection process for the stool at this time.
“In taking this decision, the government has had due regard to the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empower it to ‘set aside an appointment if the Executive Council is satisfied that it is in the interest of peace, order and good government to do so.
“Thus, given the reports at its disposal, the Government has elected to act proactively without further delay in the interest of peace, order and good government by halting the process in its entirety.
“Therefore, the State Government hereby directs that you convey this decision tothe Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House immediately. The latter, particularly, should be advised to await further directives regarding the selection process.”
The Ogun State Government, around December 18, 2025, halted the selection process for the vacant stool of the Awujale, citing procedural errors.

The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, had confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent.
The exercise was reportedly suspended after the state government summoned representatives of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee to a meeting.
Prof Yusuf explained that the earlier process was cancelled due to identified procedural errors that could potentially open the floodgates to litigation over the installation of the new Awujale.
About 95 people, consisting of 94 princes and a princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode whose turn it is to produce the next Awujale, emerged on Monday January 19 as the contestants to the vacant stool of Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land.

The contestants emerged at the nomination meeting held by the ruling house at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The nomination meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy and Vice, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba and Prof Fassy Yusuf, respectively, while the Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government, Abiodun Oke and some other officials of the local government were around to serve as observers