(DDM) – Legendary Fuji icon Wasiu Ayinde, widely known as K1 De Ultimate, has launched a bold public defence of his royal ancestry after declaring his intention to contest for the prestigious Awujale of Ijebuland throne.
Diaspora Digital Media DDM gathered that the controversy intensified shortly after the 67-year-old musician formally submitted his application letter to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, seeking consideration for the vacant stool.
K1 addressed the issue during a live performance on Sunday, insisting that no one could silence his right to vie for the revered position.
He invoked the spirit of the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, stressing that the monarch had bestowed on him the respected title of Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu based on merit, not influence or favour.
He stated that the debates over his lineage only emerged after he made his intentions public.
The Fuji legend told critics that his bloodline traces directly to the Fidipotemole and Fusegbunwa families of Ijebu-Ode.
He warned that any attempt to question his roots would be settled “at Popo,” a symbolic zone near the Awujale’s palace historically linked to the kingdom’s early descendants.
K1 declared that the late Oba Adetona was of sound judgment when he conferred the prince-title on him, noting that the Awujale was never a ruler who made careless appointments.
He added that if anyone doubted his heritage, the spirit of the late monarch should reveal the truth to the people.
Background checks show that the Awujale stool is one of Nigeria’s most respected traditional thrones, with strict rotational rules governed by Ijebu customary law and Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.
Candidates must prove at least seven generations of legitimate royal descent before being considered eligible.
In his December 3, 2025 letter to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House chairman, K1 formally declared his bid, citing his birth in 1957 and his ancestry within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Agunsebi Quarters.
He emphasized his lineage to the Oba Jadiara family, one of the ruling lines entitled to present candidates whenever the throne becomes vacant.
The ruling house acknowledged receiving his letter and immediately requested that he complete the official royal genealogy form.
The chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi, explained that the verification document traces lineage back seven generations to prevent impostors from exploiting the process.
Owoyemi noted that although K1 currently holds the prestigious Olori Omo-Oba title, he must still undergo the same lineage verification as every other contender.
He stressed that only genuine princes would be permitted to advance to the final selection stage for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The scrutiny surrounding K1’s royal claim has triggered heated debates across Ijebuland, the entertainment industry and social media, as supporters and critics clash over tradition, legitimacy and influence in the selection of a monarch.
As the screening process progresses, the battle for the throne is expected to intensify, with the final decision resting solely on Ijebu customary institutions and the Ogun State Chieftaincy framework.