Ijebu-Ode Royal Tussle: Ajidagba Declares Himself As The Authentic Olori-Ebi Fusengbuwa, Not Owoyemi

 Ijebu-Ode Royal Tussle: Ajidagba Declares Himself As The Authentic Olori-Ebi Fusengbuwa, Not Owoyemi

By Segun Omo Ojikutu

A fresh royal tussle is apparently brewing in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba has dismissed the recent endorsement of Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi as the Olori-Ebi (head) of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, insisting that he remains the only authentic and recognized leader of the royal family.

Addressing journalists at his Ijebu-Ode residence on Wednesday, Ajidagba described Owoyemi’s purported endorsement, which took place on Sunday at the Otunba Tunwase Museum, as “illegitimate, misleading, and a desperate attempt to distort history.”

Court Rulings and Royal Endorsements

According to Ajidagba, the leadership of the Fusengbuwa ruling house had long been settled in his favor through both the courts and traditional endorsements. He traced the dispute back to a 2018 High Court judgment, delivered by Justice A.O. Asenuga in Ijebu-Ode, which later advanced to the Court of Appeal in Ibadan.

“In 2024, the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, putting an end to the matter. Following that judgment, Otunba Owoyemi resigned his position as Olori-Ebi. The late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona, personally endorsed me as the authentic head of Fusengbuwa and I was formally certified by the Ijebu-Ode Local Government. Since then, I have been functioning as Olori-Ebi,” Ajidagba stated.

He presented a 36-page court document showing himself, Owoyemi, and Prince Adeleke Adeyemi Olufadi as appellants in the case, stressing that his position had the full weight of the judiciary, the monarchy, and the local government behind it.

Contesting the Endorsement

What particularly irked Ajidagba, he said, was a viral video showing Owoyemi’s so-called endorsement by individuals “who are not even members of Fusengbuwa.”

“The Fusengbuwa ruling house has eight units—Osinuga, Adekenu, Olufadi, Adesimbo-Tunwase, Adebiyi, Adeberu, Shenowo, and Okuyendewo. These are the true bloodlines. Anyone outside these cannot lay claim to our heritage. I am a son of the soil. Someone whose roots trace to Idowa or Ikoro-Ekiti cannot suddenly emerge as Olori-Ebi in Ijebu-Ode,” he declared.

Ajidagba also recalled that during the 90th birthday celebration of the late Awujale, he was recognized and presented as the representative of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, alongside the other three royal families of Ijebu-Ode—a moment he described as “undeniable proof” of his legitimacy.

Voices of Support

Adding weight to his claim, Alhaji Taheeb Mabadeje Alaga, head of the Ogbagba/Anikilaya ruling house and chairman of the four ruling houses in Ijebu-Ode, firmly backed Ajidagba.

“If anyone claims to be from Fusengbuwa and is not under the leadership of Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, such a person is an impostor. Those parading themselves have never been part of our family activities. Ajidagba remains the only authentic Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa,” Alaga said.

He urged members of the Fusengbuwa family to remain united and guard against external forces attempting to hijack the family’s structure and heritage.

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