IJEBU-ODE – Traditional stakeholders and custodians of Ijebu heritage, operating under the aegis of the Concerned Ijebu Indigenes, have voiced strong opposition to the ongoing public media campaigns surrounding the aspirations of Hon. Ademorin Aliu Kuye (the Otunba Ajana) for the Awujale of Ijebuland throne.
In a sharp rebuttal, the group described the recent wave of media advocacy as a “dangerous departure” from the sacred, quiet processes of Ijebu succession. The group specifically took aim at the “absolute” tone used in recent publications supporting Otunba Kuye, noting that positioning any aspirant as a “candidate to beat” is incompatible with royal tradition.
A Critique of “Competitive Advocacy”
“Phrases such as ‘unassailable credibility,’ ‘immutable truth,’ and ‘candidate to beat’ move the discussion from cultural clarification into competitive advocacy,” the Concerned Ijebu Indigenes warned.
“This is neither helpful nor appropriate at this sensitive stage. The Awujale succession process is not a contest to be won in the court of public opinion.”
The group took particular aim at reports frequently positioning Kuye and others, such as Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) and Prince Onabanjo, as “candidates to beat”, a framing the group argues is intentionally misleading to the public. They contended that these individuals are peddling narratives about their eligibility that do not align with established customary laws. According to the rebuttal, these contenders are fully aware that their claims lack the requisite traditional standing, yet continue to use media platforms to create a false sense of inevitability.
The Legacy of the Adesimbo Tunwase Lineage
To understand the weight of this intervention, one must look at the historical significance of the Adesimbo Tunwase arm of the Fusegbunwa ruling house. The Tunwase lineage occupies a pivotal place in the modern history of Ijebuland. It was during the reign of Awujale Adesimbo Aboki Tunwase (1886–1895) that Ijebuland navigated its most transformative encounters with the British Empire, marked by diplomatic foresight and the signing of administrative treaties.
The Fusegbunwa ruling house, and specifically the Tunwase branch, remains a pillar of the monarchy, known for producing leaders who prioritized collective stability over individual ambition. The group invokes this lineage to underscore a tradition of “royal restraint”—the belief that the throne seeks the man through divine and customary selection, rather than the man seeking the throne through media campaigns.
Distinction Between Honor and Entitlement
A major point of the group’s intervention was the distinction between traditional honors and actual succession rights.
“The Awujale stool is not awarded on résumé strength but on strict adherence to custom, rotation, and the judgment of the kingmakers,” the group noted. “While one may possess political exposure or an Otunba title, these do not automatically equate to entitlement to the throne of our ancestors.”
The “Gbelegbuwa” Lineage and the Otunba Title
The Concerned Ijebu Indigenes further cautioned against public assertions that certain lineages are “beyond dispute.” They argued that while the Kuye family is indisputably of Gbelegbuwa stock, specifically from the first-born line, the attempt to rebrand Kuye as a candidate of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is deceptive.
“It is ambition dressed up as history, unsupported by law, custom, or genealogy,” the group stated. “A simple question exposes the flaw: why was Kuye never conferred an Otunba title by the Fusengbuwa house during the lifetime of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona? Titles are not retroactive conveniences.”
The group further highlighted that Kuye accepted the Otunba Ajana title, which is firmly domiciled within the Gbelegbuwa Ruling House. To disown that identity in favor of Fusengbuwa as political tides shift is described as contrary to custom. They reminded the public that under Ijebu customary law, Otunbaship is deliberately reserved for royal descendants outside the line of succession.
“Furthermore, to present maternal lineage as an unconditional qualification risks misleading the public and oversimplifying a complex customary issue,” the statement continued, adding that “loud certainty” in the media cannot replace the “patience and restraint” required of a true prince.
Call for Order
In a direct appeal to all aspirants and their supporters, the Concerned Ijebu Indigenes urged respect for the autonomy of the ruling houses, warning that when succession matters are politicized, the ultimate loser is the dignity of the Ijebu people.
“The Awujale stool belongs to Ijebuland, not to aspirants or commentators,” the statement concluded. “Every eligible prince has the right to present himself through the proper channels. Until that stage is reached, all claims should be expressed as aspirations, not conclusions.”
