The attention of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family (Four Ruling Houses declared in the Chiefs Law of 1959), has been drawn to a meeting held on Tuesday 16th September, 2025 between the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Mr. Dare Alebiosu, one Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi and traditional rulers of some Ijebu communities including; Idowa, Irete, Isonyin and Oke Ako. The visitors of the Ijebu Ode Local Government falsely presented themselves as representatives of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House alleging the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family orchestrated a division.
Ordinarily, being a public office holder, the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family is unconcerned about who the Ijebu Ode Local Government Chairman meets. However, his prompt acknowledgment of his visitors’ claims and subsequent casting of smear on the integrity of the entire Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family, not only betrayed our trust but of the good people of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.
The Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family disapproves of the Chairman’s provocative remarks and caution against any further inflammatory statements from his office. The Honorable Chairman’s actions are viewed as meddling in the Awujale’s succession, suggesting his involvement in recent attempts by his visitors to infiltrate the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family. As law abiding citizens of Ogun State and traditional owners of the Awujale stool, we are compelled to inform the general public to reject the Chairman’s visitors’ false claims and interference in the affairs of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family. We wish to state as follows;
The Chiefs Law of 1959 declares that the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family comprises four Ruling Houses; Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa, Fidipote and Gbelegbuwa.

The Chiefs Law of 1959 declares the order of rotation in which the four Ruling Houses comprising of direct descendants of the patriarchs of the Ruling House are entitled to provide candidates to fill successive vacancies in the chieftaincy. Specifically;

Anikinaiya: descendants of Awujale Anikinaiya (1821 – 1854).
Fusengbuwa: descendants of Awujale Fusengbuwa (1790 – 1820)
Gbelegbuwa: descendants of Awujale Gbelegbuwa (1780 – 1790) and,
Fidipote: descendants of Awujale Fidipote (1854 – 1885).

The Chiefs Law of 1959 declares that the Ruling House whose turn is to present candidate(s) to fill a vacancy may only present person(s) who directly descend from the patriarch of the of the Ruling House (i.e., persons who are direct descendants of children birthed on the Awujale stool – Abidaagba). In this case only the direct descendants of Awujale Fusengbuwa.

While the four Ruling Houses jointly address any deviation from the Royal tradition of Ijebuland, they do not interfere in the internal affairs of a Ruling House whose turn it is to present candidate(s) to fill a vacant Awujale stool.

Contrary to the Chairman’s visitor’s deceptive victim-blaming, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is located at Ile Nla Agunsenbi Quarters, Ijebu Ode, within Ijebu Ode LGA, Ogun State, and nowhere in Idowa, Oke Ako, Isonyin, Irete, or Odogbolu LGA.

The general public is hereby informed that Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi and some Ijebu traditional leaders, having visited the Ijebu Ode Local Government Chairman, have no familial ties to the Awujale Fusengbuwa Ruling House. These individuals recently put forth baseless assertions, such as Awujale Jadiara (1680-1695) being a descendant of Awujale Fusengbuwa (1790-1819), which is chronologically impossible.

We respectfully challenge the Honorable Chairman to request his visitors to avail the public of any precedent to their claims in the entire Yorubaland where at the vacancy of a Chieftaincy stool, claimants citing descent from a distant past monarch were allowed to vie for the stool in opposition to a legally recognized Ruling House.

It is a generally acknowledged fact that in Ijebuland, a claim of connection to a distant Awujale is not entertained in the selection of an Awujale. The Chiefs Law of 1959 regulating the selection of the Awujale of Ijebuland chieftaincy codified the native laws and custom of Ijebuland regarding the selection of the Awujale and any deviation therefrom is not only illegal but sacrilegious.

Furthermore, what the impostors are promoting has never existed in the history of Ijebuland. During the appointment of the late Awujale Sikiru Olukayode Adetona, Indigenes and traditional rulers from Ibefun, Ikorodu, Okun-Owa, Iperu, Odo Mase, Imodi, Imosan, Ikangba and other places connected to the Awujale Anikinaiya dynasty never claimed to be members of the Anikinaiya Ruling House.

The Ijebu Ode Local Government Chairman’s unfortunate endorsement of a visitor’s claim—that the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family’s recognition of the legitimate Fusengbuwa Ruling House (the Ile Nla Agunsenbi Quarters, led by Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba) is interference—exposes his incomplete knowledge of Ijebu royalty and traditions.

It is our firm view that political office holders’ sworn duty is to protect of law and order which includes preservation of the lawful native laws, tradition and custom of their people.

Notwithstanding the Chairman’s claim that his guests provided documents for his examination, he is respectfully counseled, for the sake of societal harmony, to uphold the autonomy of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and the collective Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family, which requires ceasing the endorsement of illicit activities and avoiding further strain on the patience of the Ijebu community. The exclusive authority to determine the membership and leadership of any Awujale Ruling House is vested solely in the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family, given that these four Ruling Houses have never existed in isolation; our ancestors held periodic meetings, fostering mutual recognition, and thus, external political office holders will not be permitted to arbitrarily appoint individuals to establish an Awujale Ruling House.

For the record, Prince Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi Obanlefa, a direct descendant of Awujale Fusegbuwa’s 1st Abidagba, headed the Fusengbuwa Ruling House as ‘Olori Ebi’ for over 25 years, until his 2013 death. His son, Prince Adeleke Adeyemi, serves as General Secretary for the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family. The late Otunba Subomi Balogun’s attempt to seize control of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House led to legal action. At the trial, the late Awujale Sikiru Olukayode Adetona testified against Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi, who was chosen as the Fusengbuwa Family head to oppose Otunba Subomi Balogun. The Awujale stated in court that, by tradition, only Ijebu Ode natives, not those from Idowa or elsewhere, may serve as family heads. He further explained Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi, originating from Idowa and Ikoro village in Ekiti State, has no royal family ties in Ijebu, a point Alhaji Owoyemi admitted.

Acting on legal counsel, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, comprising eight units, named Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba as their new Family Head in 2023 after Otunba Subomi Balogun’s death. Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi never opposed this until the late Awujale Sikiru Olukayode Adetona GCON died in 2025.

In the first half of 2025, near the late Awujale’s passing, one Dr. Adekunle Hassan began falsely claiming leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. The Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba-led house sued him for his fraudulent claims, and Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi made no claims.

It was after the death of the Awujale that Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi with the support of certain traditional rulers and other persons outside Ijebu Ode began to parade himself as Head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on the false pretext that a 2024 court of Appeal judgement reinstated him as the Family Head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. In fact, the Court of Appeal judgment of 28th November 2024 had the limited effect of restoring Alhaji Lateef Owoyemi’s status as a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and noting his 2013 appointment as Olori-Ebi. It does not displace the family’s 2023 appointment of Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, which remains valid and subsisting until set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Honorable Chairman is urged to examine the November 2024 Court Judgment cited by Otunba Lateef Owoyemi. He should confirm and validate Otunba Lateef Owoyemi’s basis for his claims, especially in the face of a March 2018 High Court of Ijebu-Ode ruling that rejected him as Olori Ebi.

We hereby make a general public statement that Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba leads Fusengbuwa Ruling House, located at Ile Nla Agunsenbi Quarters Ijebu Ode, which remains the true house following late Prince Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi Obanlefa’s leadership and to disregard any political endorsements favoring people from Idowa, Irete in, Odogbolu Local Government and other places outside Ijebu Ode.

Signed,

Prince (Alhaji) Toheeb Mabadeje Alaga
Olori Ebi, Anikinaiya Ruling House & Head, Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family.

For and on behalf of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy Family both at home and in the diasporas.

The City Pulse Lounge, a subsidiary of The City Pulse, has unveiled its signature delicacy, Iyan Olodo, a traditional freshly pounded yam served the way our fathers enjoyed it — with pure, unadulterated palm wine in calabash-style fashion, but now available in the heart of Ikeja.

Iyan Olodo isn’t just a meal; it’s a cultural homecoming. Customers hear the sound of yam being pounded live in the lounge (except for pre-orders), surrounded by an ambience steeped in Yoruba tradition. Every weekend, the lounge comes alive with live Juju, Fuji, Gospel, and cultural performances, turning every meal into a celebration of heritage.

“I conceptualized Iyan Olodo to bring back the memories of our forefathers in the villages,” says Ayoyemi Mojoyinola, popularly known as Ayo Mojoyin, founder of The City Pulse Lounge. “As a journalist turned hospitality entrepreneur, I wanted to rekindle how our fathers ate yam with fresh palm wine and preserve that rich Yoruba culture.”

The offering has already attracted A-list patrons, including:

Chief Bestman Nze, President of Team Nigeria and close ally of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Otunba Femi Davies, veteran celebrity journalist and founder of Metronews Nigeria, a close ally of Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Otunba Olayinka Ogundipe ‘Ultra’, certified realtor.

Mr. Adebisi Adewusi (DebisiKonga), popular broadcaster with Radio Lagos/Eko FM.

Videos of these influencers enjoying Iyan Olodo are available for release, boosting the cultural and celebrity buzz.

Menu & Pricing

Iyan with Fish / Bokoto / Ogufe – ₦4,000

Iyan with Assorted & Ponmo Ijebu – ₦5,500

Iyan with Fresh Fish – ₦10,000

Palm Wine (100% natural, not mixed) – ₦2,000 per bottle

(Eat-in only. Takeaway and delivery attract packaging and dispatch fees.)

Iyan Olodo is available daily from 1:30pm – 8:00pm, with flexible pre-orders for earlier or later service.
📍 Location: The City Pulse Lounge, inside Lagos Television, Plot 1 Lateef Jakande, Agidingbi, Alausa, Ikeja.

The brand plans to expand soon to Ogun State and the FCT, with discussions already in top gear.

To celebrate Nigeria’s Independence Day, The City Pulse Lounge will roll out a special Iyan Olodo promotion from October 1st – 5th, 2025, with official announcements dropping September 25th.

Contact

📞 08076666044 | 08089177751
📧 [email protected]
📲 Instagram: @thecitypulselounge

Jamiu Balogun, a landowner in Orile Sagamu, Ogun State, has cried out for help after being attacked and shot allegedly by some palace chiefs from Epe community in Sagamu over a land dispute.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Balogun explained that the incident happened on Friday, September 12, 2025, while he was on his wife’s two plots of land along Ikenne Road where she was building shops. According to him, a bus and four motorcycles arrived at the site carrying armed men whom he recognized as chiefs from Epe community.

“They came down with guns and other weapons. I identified Jogodo, Lisa Epe, Balogun, Councillor, and some security men among them. They suddenly attacked me, shot me in the leg, and used machetes on me. They even dragged me on the floor. I don’t have any issue with them, I only know them because we live in the same area. My wife bought the land and we were just working on her shops when they stormed the site. They even destroyed her containers,” Balogun recounted.

He added that though he was first taken to OSUTH, he had to leave due to challenges and is now receiving treatment in a private hospital. “I want Nigerians to help me so that I won’t die from this injury,” he pleaded.

Backing his claims, Prince Abdul Fatai Anoko, one of the family members that sold the land to Balogun’s wife, explained that the land dispute had earlier been reported to the Akarigbo of Remoland, who instructed both parties to maintain peace until his return from a trip. He alleged that despite this directive, the Epe community chiefs invaded the land, destroyed shops, and eventually attacked Balogun.

“We have video evidence of their repeated destruction. Just yesterday, they shot one of our clients. We are crying out to authorities to save us because our lives are now in danger,” Prince Abdul said.

Similarly, Chief Abdulateef Adewale Anoko condemned the attack, describing it as one of several attempts by the Epe community to forcefully seize their land. “For weeks, we have seen thugs invading our properties, destroying valuables, and now they have attacked a land buyer. Though some of the perpetrators have been arrested, we are begging government and security agencies to follow this case through. They have been threatening us and even the victim, and we fear for our safety,” he warned.

Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, said four suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack while investigations are ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department. “The victim was on the land when he was shot on the leg. Four suspects have been arrested, and SCID is investigating,” she stated.