The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebuland has described as “arrant nonsense” a protest letter written by renowned Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM1, to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
In the letter he alleged deliberate exclusion from the ongoing selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
KWAM1, through his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), had in the letter dated January 8, 2026, accused the ruling house of issuing directives unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, aimed at disenfranchising him from contesting for the vacant throne.
However, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, dismissed the allegations outright in a telephone interview on Sunday, describing the letter as “misguided.”
“Either Wahab Shittu is being misled or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. It is arrant nonsense,” Yusuf said.
“The letter was directed to the government, so they will respond appropriately. The issue being raised about the screening is illogical. We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house. How does he expect us to manage the crowd?”
Yusuf disclosed that the family had scheduled Monday for the nomination meeting of aspirants for the vacant stool.
The selection process, which has reportedly attracted over 60 aspirants, has generated widespread interest, with the Fuji icon openly declaring his intention to vie for the traditional seat.
However, the Fusengbuwa family has maintained that KWAM1 is not a member of the ruling house and therefore lacks the qualification to participate.
KWAM1 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.
The court, however, declined the application for lacking merit, and the suit was subsequently withdrawn without reasons given.
Following intervention by the state government, the ruling house suspended and restarted the nomination process afresh.
In his fresh letter to Governor Abiodun, KWAM1 stated that the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, through a letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, had approved the commencement of the selection process.
He expressed surprise that Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, the Public Relations Officer of the ruling house, issued a notice directing candidates to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga.
According to the musician, the directive fixed the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, but stipulated that nominations would be conducted by delegates selected at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
Dr. Shittu, in the letter, said, “It is a matter of deep concern to our client that all the illegal directives—unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration, the Obas and Chiefs Law, and the letter of the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government—were included in the family’s letter to the Local Government dated January 6, 2026. It is clear that there are plans by the leadership of the ruling house to disenfranchise members who wish to participate in the nomination of candidates for the Awujale stool.”
The lawyer emphasized that all members of the ruling house were entitled to attend the meeting to nominate candidates of their choice, warning that attempts by certain individuals to hijack the process would create a crisis.
“The directive providing for screening of candidates and nomination by delegates is not only inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the Chieftaincy Declaration but also with the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021,” the letter stated.
It added that attempts to exclude KWAM1 from the process would be “resisted,” urging the governor’s intervention to ensure justice for all parties.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July last year following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at the age of 91, after a 65-year reign.
Efforts to reach the state government for reaction proved abortive, as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, had not responded to enquiries as of press time.