HOPE of a quick resolution of the crisis arising from the selection of a new Olowu dimmed yesterday as the five kingmakers shunned the Owu Day celebration presided over by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Only one of the four princes who vied for the stool at last Monday’s selection exercise, Prince Sanya Dosumu, was also present at the celebration which witnessed a low turn- out compared with previous editions.
The five kingmakers led by the Akogun of Owu, Chief Rufus Onifade, had last Monday accused Obasanjo of annulling the selection of a new Olowu by allegedly tearing the result sheet of the election. The kingmakers then announced the cancellation of the Owu Day celebration. But the President last Thursday after a meeting with 16 Owu chiefs and influential citizens at his Ota farm announced that the Owu Day celebration would hold as planned.
No fewer than 25 Obas from Oke-Ogun area were, however, present at yesterday’s celebration which also had the Minister for Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe and the Minister for Housing, Mrs Mobolaji Osomo, among several others in attendance. Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru, represented Governor Olugbenga Daniel and came along with several commissioners, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sarafa Ishola, Senators Ibikunle Amosu and Iyabo Anisulowo, Engineer Funso Williams, Chief Mark Wabara, Chief Mike Adenuga and Otunba Johnson Fasawe were also in attendance.
Addressing the gathering after a lot of drumming, dancing and homage paying, President Obasanjo said that the celebration was most exciting, heartwarming and glorious, adding that the ceremony could not have been better. He then pleaded with his kinsmen to unite, noting that in unity laid strength and explained that nobody blessed like the Owus had been blessed by God would not have enemies. “All Owus must unite. Nobody blessed like us will not have enemies. We have to be careful that their plot comes to nought”, he said.
President Obasanjo then spoke on the reforms his administration has for the country which he said would bring a wind of change and a big leap forward for the country. The reforms for which he said he had no apology, he said must be all embracing and all encompassing from the national level through state and local government levels to the communities to make the country “ a land of glory, prosperity and uprightness”.
