- Sunny Kuku holds forth as Regent
By Yanju Uwala
The race for the next Awujale of Ijebuland following the interment of the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who joined his ancestors on Sunday and was interred on Monday in accordance with Islamic rites, has commenced in earnest.
The New Diplomat checks reveal that some members of the likely ruling House, whose turn it is, to produce the next Awujale, are already scheming in a contest that might prove interesting.
Recall that Ijebuland was on Sunday, July 13, 2025, thrown into mourning with the end of chapter Ijebu’s royalty as the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Ọba Sikiru Adetona, joined his ancestors, at the age of 92 years.
The deceased monarch, who reigned for 65 years, was on Monday buried according to Islamic injunction at his Igbeba GRA residence.
Oba Adetona, had ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, at barely 26 years of age, having succeeded Oba Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II. He was from the Anikilaya family, one of the royal ruling houses in Ijebu Ode.
With his passage after a very successful reign and his interment on Monday, the monarchial attention has shifted to the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is said to be the next ruling house that might likely produce the successor to the late Awujale.
It was gathered that many members of the ruling house eyeing the exalted throne have been making moves to enhance their visibility within their respective royal family.
However, it was also gathered that the next ruling house, which is the Fusengbuwa, consists of four ruling houses: Jadiara, being the eldest followed by Fusengbuwa, Bubiade and then Tunwase.
The four royal families have the right to present candidates to contest for the Awujale’s throne as soon as the government gives the green light.
The royal families were said to have waited for this time to produce the next custodian of the Ijebu land cultural heritage.
Speaking with The New Diplomat on Monday after the burial of Oba Adetona, the Secretary of Tunwase ruling house and Under-Secretary of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prince Kazeem Ahmed, confirmed that some members of the family were already warming up to start from where the late monarch left it off.
Prince Ahmed said that even before the demise of the Awujale, some members of the ruling family who had shown interest in the throne never hid their intentions.
“We have four royal houses and they are Jadiara, being the eldest followed by Fusengbuwa, Bubiade and then Tunwase.
“After the mourning of our highly revered king who has just been interred, this could be three months or more, people who have an interest in becoming the next Awujale from the four ruling houses of Fusengbuwa, Jadiara, Tunwase and Bubiade will begin to make known their intentions.
“We shall then take a look at those who have shown their intentions, check out their characters and influence in the community before we recommend them to the kingmakers.
“We have been seeing some of them showing interest before the demise of the king. Many people don’t want interregnum, so, left for me, I would suggest that maybe after we mourn the king for four months, then the floor can be declared open in preparation for the next king.
“We will have many people who will declare interest, but the family committee will prune and screen them down to a sizeable number of candidates to be presented to the kingmakers,” he said.
Another ranking chief from the palace, whose reaction was similarly sought on the selection of the next Awujale, said it was too early to begin to talk about getting a replacement for the late monarch when the entire Ijebu land was still mourning the passage of the highly revered traditional ruler.
The palace chief who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, however, said the next Awujale might have the challenge of matching up to the exemplary leadership shown by Oba Adetona.
He added that he was sure that the system would not be allowed to throw up anybody who would not be in a position to consolidate on several developmental strides and efforts of the late monarch.
Pending the emergence of the new Awujale, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Olorogun Sunny Kuku, is to hold forth as the reagent and temporary Awujale.
He would see to the day-to-day administration of Ijebu land and help coordinate and midwife the process of emergence of the next Awujale.
