Why We Charged ₦10 million From Those Interested In Awujale Stool – Fusengbuwa Ruling House

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has explained that charging an application form fee of ₦10 million from those interested in becoming the next Awujale of Ijebuland was in line with Yoruba traditional practice.

The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, made the submission on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme.

He further stated that the figure was agreed after extensive deliberations and general meetings and was meant to support the logistics involved in the king-making process.

According to him, the fee was initially set at ₦100 million before it was reduced to ₦10 million, disclosing that ten aspirants for the tool paid ₦10 million each.

“In the first place, we started with 12 candidates after the family unanimously resolved that a price tag should be placed on anyone who wants to contest for the position of Awujale, as it is common in Yorubaland.

“At the members’ general meeting, various suggestions were made. The amount was reduced from 100 million [naira] to 10 million naira only, and the members were also informed.

“It went from ₦10 million to ₦50 million, to ₦25 million, to ₦20 million, until it finally settled at ₦10 million, and it was unanimously approved. 12 members applied and paid 10 million each,” Owoyemi stated.

Otunba Owoyemi, however, added that they refunded all monies paid after the Ogun State Government advised that the process should be opened up and made free for all eligible family members.

He stated that the refunds were completed within three days and communicated to relevant state officials as evidence of compliance.

“We had an invitation from the Ogun State Govt to meet with the senior state officials.

“At that meeting, we were advised that what we had charged was not fair to everybody, and we should return all the 10 million each of the 12 candidates had paid and announce that any willing member of the family could apply and could collect the application form from us without paying a naira.

“Within three days, we were able to refund all the money to those who had paid, and we sent copies of the bank advice to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary to the State Govt, and the Governor himself in evidence that we have complied with the directive,” he said.

The Olori Ebi rejected claims that the Awujale stool has been compromised, explaining that the funds were meant purely for the administrative process, as the activities involved in the selection of a new king can’t be carried out with an empty purse.

“No king-making process is ever done on empty hands,” he said, adding that the money was not intended to enrich any individual.

“The money was not supposed to be paid to anybody. It was meant to cover expenses incurred in organising the nomination process,” Owoyemi explained.

On the possibility of a candidate paying money to a kingmaker to influence decisions, Owoyemi explained that nomination fees, where applied, are standard practice and are paid into the family’s account for collective use.

He argued that changes in the selection process have reduced the relevance of financial inducements to elders.

“In the past, the agbas (elders) selected the oba, but now the process has changed to mass participation of all members of the family, young or old. There is no cause for any sensible candidate to go and give money to any agba,” he stated.

Naija News recalls that the Ogun State Government has suspended the selection process for the new Awujale, citing security reports and petitions over the order and due process for its action.