Awujale stool: I remain authentic Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House – Ajidagba

Tension is brewing within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, following the rejection of the endorsement of Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), as the Olori Ebi of the family.

At a press conference held on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode, Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba maintained that he remains the legitimate head of the family, citing a 2018 court judgment delivered by Justice A.O. Asenuga of the Ijebu-Ode High Court in his favour.

Ajidagba further explained that Otunba Owoyemi and Prince Adeleke Olufadi were the appellants in the said case, which he said was later resolved by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan in 2024.

He described the recent pronouncement of Owoyemi as the family head as “misleading” and “without legal basis.”

It would be recalled that Owoyemi was endorsed last Sunday during a special unification meeting held at the Tunwase Museum in Ijebu-Ode.

Ajidagba stated that the appellate court ruling affirmed his position, after which Owoyemi, according to him, resigned as Olori Ebi. He added that he was subsequently endorsed by the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and formally recognised by the Ijebu-Ode Local Government.

“After the appellate court’s ruling, the late Awujale personally endorsed me, and I was issued a certificate of endorsement by the local government affirming my position. Since then, I have been functioning as the Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa family. It is therefore surprising to see a video circulating on social media showing Owoyemi being endorsed by individuals who, to the best of my knowledge, are not members of our ruling house,” he said.

Ajidagba emphasized that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House comprises eight family branches: Osinuga, Adekenu, Olufadi, Adesimbo-Tunwase, Adebiyi, Adeberu, Shenowo, and Okuyendewo. He alleged that those supporting Owoyemi were not bona fide members of the ruling house and questioned his rival’s ancestral ties to Ijebu-Ode.

“I am a true son of the soil. Someone from Idowa, with roots traceable to Ikoro-Ekiti, cannot suddenly become Olori Ebi in Ijebu-Ode,” he stated.

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He also recalled representing the Fusengbuwa Ruling House during the 90th birthday celebration of Oba Adetona, an occasion which he described as further confirmation of his recognition among the four officially acknowledged ruling houses of Ijebu-Ode.

Supporting Ajidagba’s position, Alhaji Taheeb Mabadeje Alaga, head of the Ogbagba/Anikilaya Ruling House and chairman of the Four Ruling Houses in Ijebu-Ode, affirmed that Ajidagba remains the only recognised Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa family.

“If anyone claims to be from Fusengbuwa and is not under the leadership of Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, such a person is not known to us. Those parading themselves have never participated in our family’s activities. Ajidagba is the only authentic Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa that I recognise,” Alaga stated.

He appealed to members of the Fusengbuwa family to remain united and vigilant against what he described as attempts by non-members to interfere with the family’s internal affairs.