The selection process for the new Awujale of Ijebuland in Ogun State has emerged.
Recall that the immediate past Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, died on Sunday and was buried at his private residence in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Monday.
Oba Adetona, who was the longest-reigning monarch in Nigeria, died at the age of 91.
The deceased monarch was installed as king on 2nd April 1960.
However, the selection process disclosed that there are four ruling houses from which the new Awujale may be picked.
A document sighted by Bellnews, tagged: “Declaration made under Section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1957 of the Customary Law Regulating the Selection to the Chieftaincy,” reads below:
“There are four ruling houses and the identity of each ruling house is:
(i) The Gbelegbuwa ruling house
(ii) The Fusengbuwa ruling house
(iii) The Anikinaiya ruling house
(iv) The Fidipote ruling house
2. The order of rotation in which the respective ruling houses are entitled to provide candidates to fill successive vacancies in the chieftaincy shall be:
(i) The Anikinaiya ruling house
(ii) The Fusengbuwa ruling house
(iii) The Fidipote ruling house
(iv) The Gbelegbuwa ruling house (last ruling house)
The persons who may be proposed as candidates by a ruling house entitled to fill the vacancy shall be:
(a) Members of the ruling house
(b) Of the male line; provided that succession may devolve on the female line where there is no male to succeed in that family. In such event, the mother of the candidate must be an ‘Abidagba’, i.e., true-born when the father was on the throne, except that where there is no such ‘Abidagba’, any child of an Oba born before his or her father reigned could be selected.
There are thirteen kingmakers who are Chiefs of the following classes:
A. Ilamuren Class
(i) The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode
(ii) The Ogbeni-Oja of Ijebu-Ode
(iii) The Egbo of Ijebu-Ode
(iv) The Apebi of Ijebu-Ode
(v) The Olotufore of Ijebu-Ode
(vi) The Olotu-Olowa of Ijebu-Ode
B. The Odi Class
(i) The Ogbeni-Odi-Imesi of Ijebu-Ode
(ii) The Eketa-Odi-Iletu of Ijebu-Ode
C. The Osugbo Class
The Oliwo of Ijebu-Ode
D. The Pampa Class
(i) The Agbon of Ijebu-Ode
(ii) The Kakanfo of Ijebu-Ode
(iii) The Lapockun of Ijebu-Ode
(iv) The Ba’ogun of Ijebu-Ode
5.
(ii) The ruling house whose turn it is to provide a candidate shall nominate at a family meeting to be summoned by the head or family heads a candidate or candidates for the chieftaincy to be presented by the family head(s) to the Odis.
(i) The Odis will then submit the name(s) of the candidate or candidates so nominated to a meeting of the kingmakers listed in paragraph 4 above.
(iii) The candidate who receives the unanimous decision of the kingmakers present at such a meeting shall be declared appointed.