Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde (K1 De Ultimate) has responded to critics questioning his eligibility to contest for the vacant throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland.
K1 recently formally entered the race, joining other notable candidates including Prince Olaseni Ottun and engineer Otunba Babatunde Alatise.
In a December 3rd letter to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, K1 declared his intention to vie for the stool, stating he is a bonafide son of the ruling house through the Oba Jadiara lineage.
He cited his over 50 years of promoting Ijebu and Nigerian culture as part of his contribution.
Addressing the controversy in a video message, K1 firmly asserted his royal heritage from both paternal and maternal sides, referencing his titles—Olori Omo-Oba and Otunba Afidipotemole of Akile Ijebu—conferred by the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as validation of his lineage.
He emphasized that his candidacy is a rightful claim under customary and chieftaincy laws.
K1 called for unity among all princes, stating that the process should not lead to division, and pledged to support whichever candidate is chosen for the development of Ijebuland.
He concluded by saying this would be his final public comment on the matter.
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.
