ABEOKUTA — THE reconciliation committee set up on the crisis arising from the selection of a new Olowu yesterday met with President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Ota farm but with the five warring Owu kingmakers conspicuously absent. Although the five kingmakers led by the Akogun, Chief Rufus Onifade, were said not to have been invited, three other kingmakers including President Obasanjo who is Balogun Owu were in attendance.
No fewer than 16 prominent chiefs and influential Owu citizens including Primate Omolaja Olorunwo, Mrs. Maria Sokenu and Chief Ogooluwa Bankole were in attendance. Briefing newsmen after the three and half hours meeting, President Obasanjo said as far as he was concerned, the crisis was a family affair, adding, however, that a responsible family member should not wash the family’s dirty linen in public.
President Obasanjo said the Owu Day celebration scheduled for tomorrow would be held as planned. He said the reconciliation efforts would continue after the Owu Day celebration and that the committee would report to Governor Olugbenga Daniel who he said put it together.
“There are things that have to be done and for me, I don’t take offence at those who insulted me: Those who say good and bad things in the newspapers. That is part of the burden of responsibility,” he said. President Obasanjo said his was to show goodwill to all Owu sons and daughters and thanked them for their cooperation.
Chief Olugbolahan Ijaola, Alhaja M A Ogunmola and Chief Ogooluwa Bankole also confirmed to newsmen their decision to hold the Owu Day celebration. The Bashorun of Owu, Chief Doja Adewolu, told newsmen that the five warring kingmakers were not invited to the meeting. The five kingmakers led by Akogun Rufus Onifade had, Monday, at a press conference alleged that President Obasanjo annulled the nomination of a new Olowu by tearing the election result. The kingmakers had indicated that they were ready for a showdown with the president who they said threatened to deal with them. But President Obasanjo on Tuesday in a letter to Governor Daniel slammed the kingmakers, accusing them of compromising themselves and asked that they be disbanded and another panel set up to pick the new Olowu.
Governor Daniel in a bid to resolve the impasse raised a 16-member reconciliatory panel to wade into the matter by meeting with President Obasanjo and find a way of resolving the crisis.
