A contender for the vacant stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland Ademorin Kuye has said he is not desperate to become the next Awujale of Ijebuland, denying allegations that he has presented himself as Awujale-elect.
Mr. Kuye, who represents Somolu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was accused by some princes and princesses of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode of parading himself as the Awujale-elect and commissioning a female waka singer to produce a song celebrating his purported selection.
In a statement signed by Barr. Kunle Adebajo on behalf of the ruling house, the group described the alleged action as illegal and capable of causing unrest in Ijebuland.
They also called on the Ogun State Government to intervene and compel Kuye and his supporters to desist from what they termed unlawful actions.
Reacting in a telephone interview with Vanguard on Sunday, Kuye denied the claims.
“I have never been involved in any of their allegations. I am also a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. I know nothing about what they are saying,” he said.
The lawmaker, who said he has practised law for 37 years, stated that he would not engage in any act that breaches chieftaincy or customary laws guiding the emergence of the Awujale.
“I am an institutional person. I know what is right, and I will not do anything contrary to the law,” he said.
Kuye disclosed that his family had issued a statement dissociating him from the claims and affirming support for the position of the Ogun State Government.
“The truth is that I am not desperate about becoming the next Awujale. I was never even interested initially. It was my family that obtained the nomination form for me. For over a month, I did not fill it until they completed the process. So how can anyone say I am desperate?” he said.
On the viral song allegedly hailing him as Awujale-elect, Kuye denied commissioning any musician.
“I did not commission any song. I neither saw nor heard it until people began drawing my attention to it. If anyone claims otherwise, let such a person come forward with evidence,” he said.
The Ogun State Government had earlier denied endorsing Ademorin Kuye as the next Awujale.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hazmat Ganiyu, the government said it had neither adopted nor supported any aspirant for the stool.
The government also announced that the process for filling the vacant stool of the Awujale had been suspended following complaints and petitions concerning the selection procedure.
It urged the public to rely on official communication and avoid spreading unverified information.
