At his press conference, Olori Ebi Prof. Fassy Yusuf did not mince words. He laid bare troubling irregularities and forcefully dismantled misinformation surrounding the Awujale stool process.
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Faulty Candidate List and Threat of Withdrawal
Prof. Fassy Yusuf openly admitted that the list of candidates jointly signed by himself and other Olori Ebis was endorsed in error. He made it clear that the circumstances under which his signature was appended were questionable and warned unequivocally that he was prepared to withdraw his endorsement if the anomalies were not corrected.
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Deliberate Manipulation of Candidate Categorisation
He exposed the categorisation of candidates on the list as a calculated and biased arrangement, deliberately structured to favour certain individuals while prejudicing others. According to him, this was clearly designed to manipulate the thinking of the kingmakers and corrupt the integrity of the selection process.
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Otunba Title Does Not Disqualify Kingship
Addressing the controversial Otunba argument, Prof. Fassy Yusuf spoke with the authority of both a seasoned legal practitioner and a deep student of Ijebu traditional history. He categorically stated that there is no legal or traditional principle anywhere in Ijebuland that bars an Otunba from becoming a king. He boldly challenged anyone with a contrary legal or historical position to come forward. To silence the propaganda, he cited three clear precedents in Ijebuland, where individuals who were Otunbas—and even kingmakers—later ascended the throne as Obas.
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Equal Rights of All Ruling House Descendants
He further emphasised that every descendant of a ruling house—male or female—has equal constitutional and traditional rights to become an Oba. He anchored this position firmly on the Ogun State Oba and Chieftaincy Law of 2022. Prof. Fassy Yusuf dismissed opposing views as either ignorance of the law or deliberate mischief, accusing those pushing such narratives of twisting history and legality to serve selfish interests and monetise their agenda.
In sum, the press conference was not just a rebuttal; it was a direct indictment of manipulation, ignorance, and bad faith in the handling of the Awujale stool process.
