Following the statement of the Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona at the recent 2019 Ojude Oba on the things to consider to choose a worthy successor when he is no more. Members of the other 3 ruling families in Ijebu Ode have begun a quiet search for a worthy successor, for the current Oba.
Let’s tell you what the process will be for choosing a new Oba. By the declaration made under Section 4 (2) of the Chief Law 1957 of the Customary Law regulating the selection of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy, there are 4 Ruling Houses. They are – (i) The Gbelegbuwa Ruling House (ii) The Anikinaiya Ruling House, where Oba Adetona comes from. (iii) The Fusengbuwa Ruling House (iv) The Fidipote Ruling House.
GBELEGBUWA ROYAL HOUSE: (ADESANYA)
Awujale Gbelegbuwa became an Oba recorded in Ijebu history in 1760. Gbelegbuwa was resuscitated in 1933 when Daniel Adesanya Gbelegbuwa II ascended the Awujale throne and reigned between 1933-1959.
ANIKINAIYA ANCESTRAL HOME: (ADETONA)
The small house behind Idewon Mosque (House no 47), just a stone throw from Olabisi Onabanjo’s house, at Fidipote Street, Is the ancestral home of the Anikinaiya ruling family. The house, oral traditional says, House no 47 was once occupied by Awujale Figbajoye Anikilaya, whose name has become the official title of the Ruling House. House no 62 at Igbogan along Italapo Street is the ancestral home of Ogbagba wing of Anikinaiya ruling house. The house which was built with clay is popularly called (Ule Joolo), now has an unimpressive look like the remnant of an ancient museum whose artefacts have been plundered.
FIDIPOTE ROYAL HOUSE: (MOYEGESO)
Rubakoye, the third female Awujale to have reigned in Ijebu-Ode. He was the mother of Awujale Moyegeso, who before he became Awujale of Ijebu-Ode had lived in Itele, as Otunba. He gave birth to five children after he ascended the throne as Awujale. The names of these children are Adeoto (male) Angba (female), Ademuyewo (male), Adematan (female) and Osuntimehin (female), whose siblings occupied the area call Isagola and Gobi, at Idewon. When it was again the turn of Moyegeso ruling house to provide an Awujale, Adeoto and Angba had died and the chance automatically fell on Ademuyewo Fidipote who reigned for many years and his name became the official name for the ruling house.
FUSENGBUWA ROYAL HOUSE: (TUNWASE)
The first record of Funsengbuwa ruling house was between 1790-1891 after the ruling of the first Gbelegbuwa between 1760-1790. The ruling house has many branches across Ijebu-Ode, it includes the Olukoku royal house at Olode, the Ile NLA at Agunsebi Aboki Tunwase the Awujale whom the British met after 1885-95 and Adekoga Eleruja also from Tunwase/Funsengbuwa ruling house became the Awujale in 1916. Oba Adenuga Folagbade was crowned in 1925 also hailed from Fusengbuwa Tunwase ruling houses many princes of Fusegbuwa ruling houses became Oba in other Ijebu settlements along the Epe road.
