“K1 Is Not A Member of Our House” – Funsegbuwa
The Chairman (Olori Ebi) of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Otunba Abdullateef Abdulaziz Owoyemi, has broken his silence on the spinning controversies, political intrigues, and public speculation surrounding the suspended Awujale succession process, declaring unequivocally that neither President Bola Tinubu nor Governor Dapo Abiodun is imposing any candidate. He added that that no amount of pressure or inducement would make him compromise the integrity of the selection process. Owoyemi made these revelations during an exclusive appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme aired on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Thursday. Recall that the Awujale succession process was suspended by the Ogun State Government on January 21, 2026, following what officials described as multiple petitions, rising tensions, and security concerns, a decision that has since generated intense debate, conspiracy theories, and political interpretations both within and outside Ijebuland.
However, Owoyemi revealed that, contrary to widespread public belief, neither he nor the Fusengbuwa ruling house has been formally served with any petition regarding the selection process.
According to him, while government officials referenced the existence of several petitions, none was officially presented for his response, a development he described as both curious and deeply frustrating.
“Let me be very clear. People keep talking about petitions. You mentioned petitions. But up till today, I have not seen any petition. Nobody has served me any petition.
Nobody has served the Fusengbuwa ruling house any petition.
I have not been given any document to respond to. So, when people say there are petitions, I ask: where are they?” Owoyemi, a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), explained that during his meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders, he deliberately refrained from aggressively demanding the alleged petitions in order not to escalate tensions.
“If I had insisted that they must show me petitions, the discussion would have collapsed.
My interest was not to argue but to find a way forward. I was more concerned about how to resolve the crisis than how to trade accusations.”
He further clarified that security investigations, if any, must not be used as justification to suspend a traditional process that has both constitutional and cultural backing.
“If anybody has committed any criminal offence, let the government investigate. That is their responsibility. They can investigate for one year, two years, even ten years. But that should not stop the traditional process of appointing an Awujale. You cannot suspend culture and history because of allegations.”
Addressing one of the most sensational elements of the succession crisis, Owoyemi offered an unusually detailed account of why Fuji star K1 The Ultimate was ruled ineligible. According to him, membership of the Fusengbuwa ruling house is not symbolic, casual, or declarative, but governed by strict genealogical, cultural, and ritual procedures.
“You don’t wake up and declare yourself a member of this ruling house. There is a formal lineage verification process. Your ancestry must be traced, confirmed, and validated by recognized family heads.
You must be screened by elders, and you must perform traditional oath rites.” He said K1 submitted an application, but the endorsement attached to his documents failed verification.
“The person who signed as his family head is not recognized by our ruling house. We investigated thoroughly. We cross-checked. The elders sat on it extensively.
The conclusion was unanimous: he does not belong to the Fusengbuwa ruling house.” Owoyemi added: “Every legitimate member must swear an oath of allegiance. That process was not fulfilled in his case. These are not political decisions; they are cultural, legal, and historical.”
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