The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, next in line to produce the Awujale of Ijebuland, has instructed Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to fill out the family’s royal lineage data form to verify his legitimate membership in the ruling house.
The directive came after KWAM 1 formally expressed his interest in the stool in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode.
In the letter, the Fuji icon described himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house and emphasized that his candidacy complies with Ijebu customary law as well as the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws. The letter went viral on social media last Friday, sparking a flurry of public reactions.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, the chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi, a former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, said the completion of the lineage form is a crucial first step to ensure that only genuine members of the Fusengbuwa family can participate in the selection process.
He explained, “The first step for anyone interested in contesting for the Awujale throne is to declare their lineage by filling the standard Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form. Once confirmed as a legitimate member of the ruling house, they can then apply for the expression of interest form.”
Owoyemi stressed that the form requires candidates to trace their ancestry up to seven generations, ensuring that only bona fide princes of the family are eligible. “We have told him, just like everyone else interested in the Awujale throne, that the first step is to declare his lineage. He will do this by completing the royal lineage data form, showing his full name, which parent and grandparent he descends from, and continuing up to seven generations,” he said.
The completed form must be submitted to the head of the ruling house unit of the Fusengbuwa house, who will confirm the candidate’s legitimacy before the process can move forward. Although the official application window closed on December 5, KWAM 1 has been granted a five-day extension, which expires on December 10.
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“We won’t shut anybody out of picking the next Awujale, but we must ensure that you are a legitimate member of Fusengbuwa. Every right comes with responsibilities. For a royal family, everyone must prove their legitimacy by completing the royal lineage data form,” Owoyemi said.
He added, “When we receive the form, we will review it meticulously. If clarification is needed, we will contact the applicant. We welcome men of influence who will use their influence to enhance the throne, not to claim it, ensuring that what truly belongs to our family is preserved.”
Owoyemi revealed that the ruling house anticipates installing a new Awujale by the second or third week of January 2026. “The local government has given us 14 days to select candidates, which expires on December 18. After that, the kingmakers have seven days to deliberate and choose one candidate, whose name will be forwarded to the governor,” he said.
The State Executive Council will then ratify the nominee after background checks, security clearance, and any objections, followed by coronation rites. “So, combining the candidate selection, kingmakers’ deliberation, and legal objection period, we are looking at around 42 days. Therefore, we expect the next Awujale to emerge between the second and third week of January,” Owoyemi concluded.