Ijebu Royal Matriarch Breaks Silence on Awujale Succession — Says Only Olufadi, Tunwase Princes Qualify

Ijebu Royal Matriarch Breaks Silence on Awujale Succession — Says Only Olufadi, Tunwase Princes Qualify

By Segun Omo Ojikutu

An 80-year-old Ijebu princess and respected royal matriarch, Princess Sidikat Onasanya (née Adebisi), has broken her silence on the ongoing debate surrounding the succession to the revered Awujale of Ijebuland. In a strongly worded statement, she declared that only princes from the Olufadi and Tunwase royal families — the Abidagba ‘Okunrin’ descendants of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House — are first in line and fully qualified to ascend the throne.

Princess Onasanya, the eldest daughter of the late Prince Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi, fondly known in royal circles as Obanlefa, made the declaration in a press release presented to journalists on October 22, 2025.

She said her position is grounded on documented royal records, oral history, and the Ijebu-Ode royal gazette, which together define the legitimate order of succession within the Fusengbuwa dynasty.

“

The Ijebu-Ode royal gazette is clear,” she affirmed. “If no princes worthy of the Awujale stool are available from the Abidagba Okunrin (male) lineage of the Olufadi or Tunwase families, then princes from the Abidagba Obinrin (female) lines may be considered, followed by the Abidoye lineages.”

The Royal Structure and Bloodlines

Princess Onasanya outlined the composition of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which she said comprises eight family branches:

The Olufadi and Tunwase lineages — the two Abidagba Okunrin (male) lines.

The Shenowo, Okunyandewo, Adebiyi, and Adeberu families — four Abidagba Obinrin (female) lines.

And the Oshinuga and Adekenu lineages — representing the two Abidoye branches, born before Fusengbuwa ascended the Awujale throne in 1790.

She traced the ancestry back to Oba Fusengbuwa, who reigned in the late 18th century, revealing that he had eight wives and eight children — known historically as Idi-Igi Mejo (Eight Lineages).
According to her, the first son born on the throne was Prince Olufadekemi (Olufadi), followed by Prince Ali Adesimbo (Tunwase) — both of whom are recognized as the legitimate royal heirs within the Fusengbuwa family.

Echoes of History and Royal Precedent

Recounting family history, the Princess recalled that her late father, Prince Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi Obanlefa, served as Olori Ebi (head of family) of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House for 25 years (1988–2013).
During his leadership, he worked closely with the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, until his passing in 2013 at the age of 96.

She also revisited key moments in Ijebu royal history:

“A legitimate descendant of Ali Adesimbo Tunwase, Folagbade Adenuga, became Awujale in 1925 but was later dethroned. Later, my great-grandfather, Prince Oduwole Obanlefa of the Olufadi line, was nominated in 1929, but objections were raised about consecutive candidates from the same ruling house. The Fidipote family then sponsored Prince Fibiwoga, who became Awujale instead,” she explained.

Princess Onasanya emphasized that the Tunwase family has already produced a past Awujale, making it the rightful turn of the Olufadi descendants, who trace their line directly to the first male born on the throne.

A Call to Uphold Tradition and Justice

Reaffirming her stance, Princess Onasanya insisted that the Ile-Nla compound and the wider Ijebu traditional structure recognize only the Olufadi and Tunwase families as having legitimate claims to the Awujale stool — and that precedence should be given to Olufadi, the first-born male lineage of Fusengbuwa.

“If things are to be done properly and in line with tradition, the next Awujale should come from the Olufadi lineage,” she maintained. “Even the late Oba Adetona himself often acknowledged this.”

She cited the 1959 Chiefs Law as further support for following established royal succession procedures, noting that the Fusengbuwa family remains one of the most expansive in Ijebu-Ode, representing nearly 40% of the town’s royal descendants.

Preserving the Integrity of the Crown

With her statement, Princess Onasanya, regarded as one of the most senior custodians of Ijebu royal heritage, has reignited a long-standing conversation about tradition, legitimacy, and historical justice in Ijebuland’s monarchy.

Her call for adherence to ancestral order, she said, is not about personal interest but about preserving the sanctity of the Awujale stool for generations to come.

    “Our history is sacred. It must never be rewritten by politics or sentiment. The crown of Ijebu belongs only to those who descend from the true royal line — the sons of Fusengbuwa born on the throne.”
She concluded.

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