— Otufale pledges transparency, unity as family seeks restart of process
By Kayode Olopade
The Fusengbuwa/Jadiara Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has announced the emergence of Omooba Otukayode Hakeem Otufale as its new Olori Ebi, while calling for a fresh and transparent process for the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The development followed a meeting of the ruling house held on Sunday at the Ule Nla Agunsebi Hall, Ijebu-Ode, attended by elders, princes and representatives of various family units.
At the meeting, the ruling house resolved to reposition its leadership, strengthen unity within the family and ensure that the selection of the next Awujale is conducted in accordance with established procedures, with all qualified members given equal opportunity to participate.
The family also expressed concerns over the conduct of the previous selection exercise, alleging procedural infractions, inadequate consultation and other developments which, it said, had affected confidence in the process.
Representatives of the various family units subsequently presented a certificate to Otufale, formally recognising him as the new Olori Ebi.
Speaking on behalf of the Tunwase Ruling House, Otunba Kehinde Alebiosun said the decision to regroup was prompted by what he described as an embarrassing situation arising from the manner in which the earlier selection process was handled.
Alebiosun alleged that established traditional procedures were not adequately followed and that members of the ruling house were insufficiently consulted.
“It is unfortunate that the people who handled the situation surrounding the selection of the Awujale failed to follow the necessary procedures. But thank God for the opportunity to right the wrong,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Otufale pledged to promote unity, transparency and accountability in the affairs of the ruling house, while calling for a review of issues surrounding the previous selection exercise.
He alleged that the former committee did not operate effectively as a team and questioned the management of funds allegedly collected from aspirants.
According to him, the government had informed those who chaired the process that money should not determine the selection of a candidate for the Awujale stool and that funds allegedly collected from aspirants should be refunded.
“Awujale Ijebu Ode stool isn’t for sale,” he said.
Otufale further called for documentary evidence concerning any alleged refunds and an account of funds collected during the previous exercise, saying such documentation should be made available to the appropriate authorities for verification.
He also alleged that some aspirants were excluded from meetings and questioned the process through which 86 names were reportedly submitted to the kingmakers without what he described as adequate screening.
The new Olori Ebi also raised questions concerning reports that two former chairmen connected with the process had acquired new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, urging that the circumstances surrounding the acquisitions be established.
Otufale said the former chairmen had lost the confidence of the ruling house and should no longer be entrusted with responsibilities relating to the selection process.
On reported legal proceedings involving some former leaders over the Awujale selection exercise, Otufale said the ruling house was neither aware of nor party to any action against the Ogun State Government.
He said the new leadership would communicate the position of the family to the court and clarify the authority of those purporting to act on behalf of the ruling house.
Otufale also said the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was not interested in litigation against the government, but preferred to work with the authorities towards restarting the selection exercise.
“We are not willing or interested in taking the government to court. The government has been able to stop the stool from being stolen, and when the restart button is pressed, we shall do a better job in conducting the selection process,” he said.
He explained that his emergence as Olori Ebi followed the established procedures of the ruling house, adding that an acting chairman had also been appointed.
According to him, letters had been sent to the government and the kingmakers informing them of the new developments.
Otufale pledged to ensure fairness to all qualified members of the ruling house, insisting that the selection process should be conducted from the family house and in line with established traditions.
“I will be fair to everyone. I will try my best. I will not leave the family house, where the staff of office and the letter were brought, to go and hold meetings somewhere else. It will be against my principle,” he said.
Also speaking, a member of the ruling house, Omooba Abiodun Ogidan, supported the call for a fresh selection process, alleging that the previous exercise had been compromised.
Ogidan urged the ruling house and the government to work together to commence a new process capable of producing the next Awujale in accordance with the applicable traditions and procedures.
He also dismissed suggestions that the ruling house was divided into factions, insisting that the family remained united.
“We do not have factions. This is the family house. It is the address the government has, and anybody who is a member of the family knows that this is where we meet,” he said.
The ruling house subsequently reaffirmed its demand for a fresh selection exercise, stressing that the process must be transparent, inclusive and conducted in strict accordance with established procedures, while giving every qualified aspirant a fair opportunity to participate.
This version makes Otufale’s emergence as the new Olori Ebi the primary news peg, while the demand for a fresh Awujale selection remains the major secondary angle.
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