ABEOKUTA—THE crisis over the selection of a new Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta took another dimension yesterday with the Akogun of Owu, Chief Rufus Alani Onifade alleging plans by some people to kill him.
Infact, Akogun Onifade who is the leader of the five kingmakers opposed to the imposition of a particular candidate by President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleged that he escaped being killed Sunday morning when people sent to kill him rather than do so advised him to keep up the good fight.
Narrating his Sunday morning experience to newsmen in Abeokuta, Chief Onifade said that he was returning from Ijeja area at about 9.30 am when three people on a a motorcycle popularly called Okada crossed his vehicle and forced him to stop.
The Akogun who said he was in a Mercedez Benz car said that he went to Ijeja to buy some things before the three people crossed him and forced his vehicle to a halt.
“Two of the men jumped down from the motorcycle and walked towards me. As soon as I saw them, I tried to maneuver to escape but my engine stalled.
“They now came to me and said 'Chief Akogun what is wrong’ and I said ‘nothing’ and one of them now said ‘please be very careful and continue to do what you are doing otherwise we should have done what we have been asked to do".
Chief Onifade who was flanked by his wife Alhaja Olusola Onifade and the Oloosi of Owu, Chief Sufianu Olaifa said that at that stage one of the two men who approached him brought out a gun to show him that they meant business, adding that he then thanked them and they left.
Akogun Onifade said that on getting home he telephoned the Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru to report the incident to her as Governor Olugbenga Daniel was on a trip abroad. He said that he also phoned the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola to intimate him of the development.
He said he also reported the matter to the State Security Service. “I don’t know why we should be sending people to kill one another over this matter".
Obviously unhappy about the treatment meted out to him by the police when he was arrested, Chief Onifade said that he did not report the matter to the police because he was confident that the SSS would do a thorough investigation.
Speaking on the selection of a new Olowu, the Akogun said that the choice of the kingmakers still stand adding that there was no way he would shift his ground “from the people's wish”.
He blamed the crisis on Prince Bola Ajibola, the Otun of Owu; Alhaji M Ola Yussuf and Chief Doja Adewolu who he said have been misadvising President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that the President himself supported Prince Adetayo Fadairo during the first selection exercise.
