A peaceful protest erupted in Ijebu Ode over alleged imposition of the next Awujale, amid halted traditional selection processes and rising tensions
A peaceful protest broke out in Ijebu Ode on Friday over alleged plans to impose the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland. Residents marched through Awujale Palace Road towards the Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat to express displeasure with the ongoing developments.
The unrest coincides with traditional procedures surrounding Awujale nominations following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in 2025.
On Monday, the Fusengbuwa ruling house submitted the names of princes and a princess eligible for consideration by the kingmakers.
However, the Ogun State government on Wednesday ordered that the selection process be halted until further notice.
The directive, signed by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ganiyu Hamzat, cited numerous petitions from security agencies and stakeholders.
The government emphasised the need to maintain public order, safeguard the integrity of the process, and preserve the veneration of the vacant Awujale stool.
The government had initially suspended the selection process on 18 December 2025, after identifying procedural errors that could lead to legal disputes over the installation of a new Awujale. Prof. Fassy Yusuf, Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, confirmed that the prior process was cancelled to prevent potential litigation.
The demonstration in Ijebu Ode reflects growing public concern over the transparency and fairness of the traditional succession process, as residents demand adherence to due procedures in selecting the next paramount ruler.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.