AWUJALE THRONE SUCCESSION DEBATE: Bubiade Lineage Demands Justice, Questions Centuries-Old Exclusion
By Special Correspondent, Igboro Lawa News Desk
In the unfolding succession debate over who becomes the next Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, a royal lineage long believed to have remained silent has now stepped forward with a strong historical claim.
The Bubiade lineage, tracing its ancestry to the ancient royal progenitor Oba Jadiara, has publicly raised questions about what it describes as a centuries-long exclusion from the revered throne in Ijebu-Ode.
According to leaders of the lineage, the ongoing succession process has once again exposed what they consider a fundamental historical imbalance within the ruling house.
The Royal Genealogy at the Center of the Debate. Members of the Bubiade family argue that the historical structure of the royal family is clear and traceable.
They explained that the ancestral roots begin with Oba Jadiara, whose descendants form the core of the ruling dynasty.
Within that lineage, they outlined the following order of descent:
Bubiade — the first child of Jadiara
Funsegbuwa — another child of Jadiara
Tunwase — the son of Funsegbuwa
By this structure, they argue, Tunwase is a grandson of Jadiara rather than a direct child of the royal progenitor.
Yet, historical records and oral tradition indicate that the throne has consistently rotated between the Funsegbuwa and Tunwase branches, which essentially belong to the same extended bloodline.
Meanwhile, the descendants of Bubiade, who was the first child of Jadiara, have never produced an Awujale.
Not once. A Rotation That Never Reached Bubiade
Historical narratives within the kingdom show that several monarchs have emerged from the Funsegbuwa–Tunwase line.
Among them were prominent rulers such as:
Oba Adekoya Eleruja
Oba Adenuga Folagbade
Across generations, the sacred stool has repeatedly moved within that circle.
For the Bubiade lineage, however, the throne has remained permanently out of reach.
This reality has now triggered renewed questions among members of the royal family and residents of the ancient kingdom.
As one elder within the palace community put it during discussions observed by reporters:
“If Bubiade is the first child of Jadiara, how can the throne continue to move between the descendants of a younger sibling and even a grandson while that first lineage never gets a chance?”
Succession Numbers Raise New Concerns. The issue has gained further attention in the current succession exercise.
Reports circulating among palace sources suggest that while the other ruling branches have collectively produced about 85 nominated candidates, the Bubiade lineage has presented only about eight eligible princes.
But leaders of the lineage insist the matter is not about political numbers or influence.
Rather, they argue, it is about historical justice and recognition of royal legitimacy.
An elderly prince from the lineage who spoke to journalists during a palace-side conversation in Ijebu-Ode said quietly:
“Royal blood does not expire because it has been ignored.
If Bubiade is a child of Jadiara, then his descendants are princes — just like every other branch.”
Reference to Law and Tradition. The lineage has also hinted that continued exclusion could raise questions not only within tradition but also within modern legal frameworks.
They referenced provisions of the Ogun State Chiefs Law 2021 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which discourage discrimination based on birth.
Their message appears directed at the custodians overseeing the selection process, including the Regent Olorogun Sunny Kuku and the traditional kingmakers responsible for guiding the succession procedure.
According to the lineage, tradition must remain fair and inclusive rather than becoming a system that permanently sidelines a legitimate royal branch.
Eyewitness Conversation Within the Community
During field conversations conducted by Igboro Lawa News Desk in several quarters of Ijebu-Ode, residents and palace associates expressed mixed reactions to the renewed claim.
A market leader who witnessed discussions around the palace gate described the growing tension:
“People are now asking questions openly.
Some say history has always favoured certain branches.
Others believe this might finally be the moment to correct it.”
Another elderly community member who identified himself simply as a palace observer added:
“The debate is no longer inside royal compounds alone.
It is now on the streets and in family houses across Ijebu.”
The Declaration Stirring the Kingdom. The formal statement from the lineage was signed by Alhaji Olaide Yusuf Busura, the Olori-Ebi (family head) of the Bubiade lineage.
In the statement, he reaffirmed the royal legitimacy of the family.
“Bubiade is a child of Jadiara. The descendants of Bubiade are legitimate princes of the royal lineage.”
He concluded with a declaration that has now intensified discussions across the kingdom:
“It is Bubiade’s turn.”
The Question Now Facing Tradition. With the succession debate gaining momentum, the question confronting the custodians of the ancient institution remains clear:
Will the historical rotation continue to bypass the Bubiade lineage — or will the kingdom witness what some now describe as a long-awaited correction in royal history?
For now, in the streets, palaces and family houses of Ijebu-Ode, the conversation continues to grow louder.
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