A crisis is brewing over the new Olowu of Owu Kingdom in Ogun State as the Laara family has kicked against the selection process of candidates for the vacant stool, accusing the leadership of Otileta ruling house of marginalisation.
The family in their large numbers converged on the Laara compound in Ago-Owu, Abeokuta, and expressed displeasure over an alleged marginalisation and negligence by the Otileta ruling house for not allowing members of the family to participate in the selection process.
The Otileta ruling house had last week nominated an Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ogun State, Dr Adegbemi Adewale, and six other princes as candidates for the next Olowu of Owu.
The nomination for the Olowu stool is coming three months after the stool became vacant, following the demise of the Late Oba Adegboyega Dosumu, who joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021.
But the head of Laara family, Adenike Lawal, insisted that the family was allegedly marginalised in the process, claiming that none of its members participated in the selection exercise.
Lawal who is also the Iyalode of Owu kingdom noted that the Laara family is part of the five compounds that formed the Otileta ruling house.
She lamented that the leadership of Otileta ruling house is allegedly planning to rewrite history by removing the Laara compound from the bonafide membership of Otileta ruling house.
She however noted that the Laara family produced the first Olowu of Owu Abeokuta, Oba Pawu who reigned between 1855 and 1867.
She added, “It is also known to all good students of history that our fathers, Laara and Olufakun brought the crown from Orile-Owu prelude to the crowning of Oba Pawu as the very first Olowu in Abeokuta in 1855.
“In 2005, we the members of Laara compound decided to keep the crown in our custody at the Olowu’s palace for safekeeping. Chief M. Ola Yusuf, the Parokoyi of Owu kingdom received the crown and gave us a notice of acknowledgment to that effect, and we are in custody of the receipt.
“We will also like to put on record that the actual names of the bonafide members of the Otileta ruling house are: Laara, Matenilola, Owokade, Lumosa, and Aderinoye.
“We, therefore, use this medium to alert all stakeholders in the matter to call the Otileta ruling house officials to order by writing the wrong in the interest of equity, justice, peace, and stability of Owu kingdom.”
Speaking on the public notice released by the government on the selection process, the Iyalode explained, “We did not receive any public notice reportedly pasted by the secretary to the Local Government on the nomination of candidate for Olowu stool. We have not heard any direct or indirect contact from anybody.
“The history of Owu in Abeokuta starts with Laara. And all the people that went to Totoro migrated from here. So, it is unjustifiable for anybody to say that Laara is not part of Otileta ruling house because it started here.
“All we want is peace, we don’t want to take measures that will affect the peace and stability of Owu kingdom. We want everything to be put right so that we are given our dues.”
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