With the resolution of the Olori Ebi crisis which initially reared its head in the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu Ode, the coast appeared cleared for the selection of a worthy candidate to fill the vacant stool of Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu Ode is the biggest of the four ruling houses in Ijebu ode having produced 25 Awujale in the past, with many junior obas on the stool in many towns outside Ijebu Ode.
Expectedly, there have been many aspirants from the different royal families within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House jostling for the stool. Majorly.
Notable among the royal houses that made up the Fusengbuwa Ruling House are Bubiade, Folagbade, Tuwase, Jadiara, Fusengbuwa. But who does the cap fits.
One name keep popping up amongst the princes of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and that is that of Otunba Abiodun Onanuga, He is a personality that has cut a niche for himself in the real estate and construction sector of the country. He is also well endowed and imbued with what it takes to sit and occupy the stool of Awujale. He is humble, has respect for tradition and culture of Ijebuland, breathe Ijebu and is well loved by the young and old within his family, members of the various traditional institutions in Ijebu Ode among others.
Royal Families Background
The Giwa of Egbe Bobakeye Akile Ijebu is Ijebu personified and truly a blue blood based on his families pedigree.
His rich royal background could first be traced to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House through his late father, Omoba (Alhaji) Ishola Onanuga, a prince of Jadiara Royal family, through his maternal grandfather, Prince Fetuga and Olisa Olukoga of Ijebu Ode, his maternal grandmother.
His mother, late Alhaja Bisola Onanuga was the granddaughter of Omoba Alfa Kadiri of Bubiade Royal House of Ita’jana, Ijebu Ode and Obelu Lukan Royal House of Esure through her grandmother who was the first Iya Suna of Ijebu-Imushin. The late Alhaja Bisola Onanuga was also the granddaughter of Prince Talabi Awoye, son of the 20th Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife of Olufesogbade Ruling House.
His grandfather was late Omoba (Alhaji ) Mustapha Onanuga a.k.a Captain Alaso Oke , who came from the Anikinaiya Ruling House. The late Captain Alaso Oke, as fondly called, was the Giwa of the Obafowora Age Grade and one of the signatories to the nomination of the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON in 1959.
His Politics
A progressive to the core, Otunba Abiodun Onanuga was active in politics and contributed to economic development of Ogun and Lagos states and at national level. He was a member of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and served as member of the Transitional Committee of then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999, member Ogun State Transitional Work Group in 2003 and Board member, Gateway Pharmaceutical between 1999 and 2003. Presently he is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on which platform his wife, Yeye Yetunde Onanuga was elected Deputy Governor alongside former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Other Appointments
He was also Board Member of Ijebu Development Board on Poverty Reduction since 2002 to date; member Ijebu Ode Central Mosque Building technical Committee; Chairman Awujale Palace Extension Building Technical Committee.
Presently, he is one of the members of the Ijebu State Creation Committee and arrow head of Council of Otunbas who sponsored the construction of an office in Ijebu Ode preparatory for the location of Passport Office by the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Traditional Titles
In recognition of his contributions to socio- development of Ijebuland, he was honoured with chieftaincy titles by some Ijebu monarchs. Aside from being a member of Council of Otunbas, Otunba Abiodun Onanuga was conferred with the title of Otunba Tayese of Esure Ijebu by late Alaiyeluwa, Obelu of Esure Ijebu, Oba (Dr.) Kamoru Sansi in 1995. Thereafter in recognition of his social contribution to Ijebuland, he was conferred the title of Otunba Anikinaiya, reserved for blue bloods, by the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Dr, Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, in 2008.
These titles bestowed on him by these monarchs and his royal pedigree endeared him to other traditional rulers, a relationship he cherished, that made him to be grounded in the rich tradition and culture of Ijebu Ode and Ijebuland,
Socio Cultural Activities
Otunba Abiodun Onanuga is one of the arrowheads for the establishment of a socio-political group named Ijebu Congress which membership spread across Ijebuland.
As a stakeholder in the history and culture of Ijebu Ode, he joined other like minds to push for the establishment of Ijebu National Museum and contributed immensely towards the realization of the project.
He also initiated a committee of Bobakeye age group which visited the British museum in London in 2024 and which visited British National Archives in London to look for facts to clear and provide answer to certain issues and clear some ambiguities relating to the visit of Queen Elizabeth of England to Ijebu Ode in 1956 and some aspects of Ijebu history. The ‘expedition’ was rewarding as the investigation provided documentary evidence that has enriched the history of Ijebuland during colonial period.
Bobakeye Age Grade 1956 to 1958
As Giwa Bobakeye, he has maintained a healthy cohesion within the ranks of the members such that the membership remained united and not factionised over the last 30 years to date. He is also the Vice Chairman of Regberegbe Council of Ijebu Ode.
Working life
Otunba Abiodun Onanuga is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NUGACON, a construction and property development company established in 1982. The company was later incorporated as a limited liability in 1984 and has contributed to socio-economic development of Lagos and Ogun States in particular.
Education
For his primary education, Otunba Abiodun Onanuga attended Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Italupe between 1963 and 1969 and the prestigious Ijebu Ode Grammar School between 1970 and 1974 where he won the award for the Best Student in Technical Drawing. He attended Federal School of Science , Victoria Island, Lagos for his’ A’ Levels between 1974 and 1975 and Yaba College of Technology in 1976 and graduated in June, 1981 with flying colours.
After serving his one year National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) at the National Housing Authority between 1981 and 1982, he wrote and passed the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) examinations and qualified as a Chartered Builder (MNIOB) and was later admitted into the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) in 1992.
He was enrolled into the College of Fellows by the Nigerian Institute of Building (FNIOB) in 2005. Earlier in 2004, he was recognized professionally for attaining Excellence by the Nigerian Institute of Building(NIOB).
He is a Member of Nigerian Institute of Management; Member Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Member Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Member Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United Kingdom amongst others.
