"May I also caution that the next set of warrant chiefs should be men or women of honour and integrity who cannot be compromised as I strongly believe that Owu Stool is priceless and sacred and its integrity must not be compromised by any means, for any price and by and for any individual or group."
Also yesterday, the principal actor in the tussle, Sanya Dosunmu, gave assurance that the dispute would definitely be settled amicably among the Owu because they are peace-loving people.
Dosunmu denied the allegation by five of the Owu kingmakers that President Olusegun Obasanjo took the voting papers during a voting process to elect a new Olowu of Owu, insisting that the President "only suspended the election."
Five of the Owu kingmakers, led by Chief Rufus Onifade, had addressed a press conference on Monday during which they alleged that during an election on that day to elect new Olowu, the President tore the voting papers when it became obvious that Dosunmu, who is alleged to be his favourite, was at the losing end.
But in his reaction, Dosunmu declared: "I was only interviewed as a candidate. I was not there during the election so I can't accept that the President tore the election result. He only suspended it, so the election was just inconclusive for now."
Said he: "Owu people are peaceful people. As far as the struggle for the Olowu throne is concerned, all the candidates want peace to reign in the kingdom and we are working on that and we will do that as much as we can," adding: "I can't say anything more than this."
Dosunmu insisted all the same that in spite of the alleged cancellation of the celebration of the "Owu Day scheduled for Saturday by the five aggrieved kingmakers, the celebration would still hold as scheduled.
Dosunmu therefore urged Owu indigenes to ignore the statement and turn out en masse for the programme scheduled for the Olowu coronation ground, Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta.
The Onifade group had alleged on Monday that as a way of protesting alleged conduct of the President during the election, they had cancelled the celebration of the day.
Dosunmu, however, said: "That is outside their (kingmakers) jurisdiction," asking "what authority do they have to cancel such an important event."
He emphasised that "the Owu Day will hold and they (kingmakers) will be there and you pressmen will also be there."
And for the Otun of Owu, Alhaji Ola Yusuf, second in command to the Balogun, that is President Obasanjo: "Whatever problem prevailing over the issue (Olowu stool) will be resolved peacefully. I have no other comment; if I am ready to comment further, I will invite you to the palace, he told reporters.
Another prominent Owu indigene, Prince Bola Ajibola, former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, when contacted also said he had been very busy preparing for the turning of the sod ceremony of his Crescent University, Abeokuta, so he had not been briefed, and could therefore not comment.
When The Guardian visited the Olowu Palace at 11.28a.m., only a policeman was on guard.
Questioned about the whereabouts of the palace guards, the policeman said: "After the yesterday's event, they were asked to go home and come next month."
