Awujale stool crisis: Kingmakers refunds ₦120million application fee to contestants

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has refunded N120million application fees collected from twelve aspirants seeking the Awujale stool, and this decision followed recent Ogun state government directive on cancellation of the selection process.

Penpushing reports that Olori Ebi of the ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi confirmed the refund while featuring on a television programme, explaining that the earlier collection of the huge application fees was reached through internal consultations and aimed at ensuring fairness among eligible family members.

The Olori Ebi stated that the family at a general meeting agreed that prospective candidates should contribute towards the logistics of the nomination process, a practice he described as common in Yoruba traditional institutions.

Penpushing further reports that he disclosed that while higher figures were initially suggested, the family eventually settled for ₦10 million after extensive deliberations, stressing that the decision was reached through internal consultations.

“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’, he stated.

“At the members’ general meeting, various suggestions were made. The amount was reduced from N100 million to N10 million only, and the members were also informed’, the Olori Ebi added.

“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 N10 million each,” Owoyemi stated.

Penpushing also reports that he affirmed that the ruling house refunded all monies collected after the Ogun State Government intervened and directed that the process be opened to all eligible members without any financial requirement.

The family head disclosed that the refunds were completed within three days and formally communicated to relevant government officials, adding that there was an invitation from the Ogun State Government to meet with the senior state officials.

“We had an invitation from the Ogun State Government 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 N10 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 Government, and the governor himself in evidence that we have complied with the directive,” he said.

Penpushing reports that on allegations that the Awujale stool was being commercialised, Owoyemi dismissed the claims, insisting that the money was meant strictly for administrative expenses and not personal gain.

“No king-making process is ever done on empty hands. The money was not supposed to be paid to anybody. It was meant to cover expenses incurred in organising the nomination process,” Owoyemi said.

Penpushing further reports that he emphasized that nomination fees, where applicable, are usually paid into a family account and used collectively, adding that the ruling house never intended to sell the throne.

The Olori Ebi Owoyemi pointed out that changes in the selection process had reduced the influence of inducements, stating that the participation of all eligible family members had replaced the old system where elders alone chose the monarch.

Penpushing reports that it would be recalled that the selection process has since turned into disputes over eligibility and procedure, hence series of petition prompted the Ogun State Government to suspend the process.

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