Celebrated Fuji musician and cultural icon, Otunba Wasiu Ayinde (K1 De Ultimate), has formally declared his intention to ascend the revered throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland.
In a letter dated December 3, 2025, to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Ayinde stated his eligibility as a “bonafide son” of the lineage, tracing his ancestry to the Oba Jadiara line. He cited Ijebu customary law and Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws as the basis for his bid, highlighting his decades of promoting Ijebu culture and his chieftaincy titles conferred by the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
His declaration follows an official notification from the Awujale Interregnum Administration Council to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, confirming it is their turn to present candidates. The council has given the ruling house a 14-day window to nominate qualified princes, urging a peaceful and transparent process.
The succession rites formally began on December 2, 2025, with the ceremonial handling of the Awujale’s Staff of Office. The stool, left vacant by the passing of the highly respected Oba Adetona after a 64-year reign, is one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional positions.
While Ayinde’s celebrity status is expected to draw significant public attention to the process, the final selection will follow traditional protocols involving the ruling house.
Local Government’s letter introducing the candidatesWasiu Ayinde’s letter
The coming weeks will determine which candidates are formally presented for consideration.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
