The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu land has dismissed as “arrant nonsense” a protest letter written by popular Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM1, to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, in which he alleged deliberate attempts to exclude him from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Ayinde, through a letter dated 8 January 2026 and written by his lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), accused the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House—next in line to produce the new Awujale—of issuing directives that were allegedly unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He claimed the directives were designed to disenfranchise him and other members from participating in the nomination process.
However, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof Fassy Yusuf, strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that the protest letter had no bearing on the legitimate selection process. Speaking on the telephone on Sunday, Yusuf said the claims were misguided and illogical.
“It is a misguided letter. Either Wahab Shittu is being misled or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. It is arrant nonsense,” Yusuf said. “We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house. How does he expect us to manage the crowd? What is being talked about is illogical.”
Yusuf added that the ruling house had fixed Monday for the nomination meeting of aspirants for the vacant stool. The contest for the Awujale throne has reportedly attracted more than 60 aspirants and generated widespread public interest, particularly following Ayinde’s open declaration of interest.
The Fusengbuwa family has maintained, however, that the Fuji musician is not a recognised member of the ruling house and is therefore not qualified to participate in the process. Ayinde had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the governor and six others from proceeding with the selection exercise. The court declined the application, ruling that it lacked merit, and the suit was later withdrawn by Ayinde without explanation.
In his latest letter to the governor, Ayinde stated that the Ijebu-Ode Local Government had approved the commencement of the selection process through a letter dated 6 January 2026. He expressed surprise that the ruling house’s Public Relations Officer later issued directives introducing nomination forms, screening committees and delegate-based nominations, which he argued were inconsistent with existing laws.
His lawyer warned that any attempt to exclude Ayinde from the process would be resisted, urging the governor’s intervention to safeguard fairness and due process.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed away at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign. As of press time, the Ogun State Government had yet to officially respond to the latest developments.
