Popular Fuji musician and title holder in Ijebuland, Alhaji Ayinde Wasiu, popularly referred to as KWAM-1, has been ruled out as a likely candidate to become the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
It could be recalled that the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, had died on Sunday, 13th July, 2025, after a brief illness.
BUSINESSINSIDERNG gathered that KWAM-1 was ousted because he is from the Fidipote Ruling House and not Fusegbuwa, where the next Awujale will emerge.
KWAM-1 is currently the Olori Om’oba of Ijebuland but speculations were rife that he would ascend the throne as the next Awujale.
However, since his ruling house is not the next, he may not be considered unless otherwise politically influenced “from the powers that be.”
It was further gathered that out of the several likely candidates, Prince Bolaji Surubomi Balogun, the second son of the late business mogul Otunba Surubomi Balogun, who founded First City Monument Bank (FCMB), is keenly interested in ascending the throne.
Bolaji is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham, an independent investment banking firm, and the Chief Investment Officer of the Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF).
Our investigation further revealed that Bolaji’s interest may not be unconnected with his late father’s aspiration to ascend the throne or have one of his sons become the next Awujale before his demise.
“But since his elder brother, Ladi Balogun, is not interested in the throne, nothing stops Bolaji from contesting the throne, and I must tell you that their family is already working hard within the Fusegbuwa Ruling House to actualise this”, our source revealed.
Another prince eyeing the throne is the veteran journalist and legal luminary Fassy Yusuf, who, until the transition of Oba Adetona, was the palace’s spokesman.
Speaking, Fassy Yusuf said, “There is nothing wrong with me becoming the next Awujale if the council of kingmakers finds me worthy of such a position. I have served my father’s kingdom for over 45 years, but I believe that the will of God must be fulfilled.”
By Ajoke Philip
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