Amosun reconciles Awujale, Alake after ranking spat

Wednesday, March 16, 2016 8:03 pm

Oba Adetona, Governor Amosun, Oba Gbadebo

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has intervened in the public quarrel between the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona and Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

Both paramount rulers were engaged in a dispute over ranking and supremacy in Yorubaland and Western Nigeria.

The Alake called the Awujale out to fight after he told visiting Ooni of Ife that he was the fourth ranked monarch in Western Nigeria, after the Ooni, the Alafin and the Oba of Benin.

He ranked Awujale fifth. Awujale, seized the inaugural lecture for a professorial chair at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, to state facts, in his own way. He said, to the anger of Alake and his chiefs, that the Alake’s dominion does not extend beyond Ake quarters in Abeokuta.

Amosun with the sparring kings behind closed doors.

Amosun with the two monarchs

While answering questions from newsmen after the meeting, the governor said that the monarchs have come to discuss how peace and tranquility will continue to reign in the state.

“I don’t want you to go and write anything out of context. Yes, we are here, our fathers are here to see me. Of course, we deliberated on so many things. I’m sure you want to say what is happening.

“Indeed, nothing is happening. They came here to see the possibility of how to make sure we have peace‎ in the state, among so many other things that we did.

“Don’t forget that this would be the first time I would have the opportunity – I’ve shown my appreciation before for the 40th anniversary, so, it is an opportunity for me to still show that.

Something to cheer here: Oba Gbadebo smiles

“So, if you think that you want to ask that what is the outcome, outcome of what?. We have come here to deliberate and as always, it’s always a pleasure for me to have our fathers around here.

“There is nothing like ranking of Oba, we know ourselves. Our fathers, they have their ways, even, before the advent of all these colonials and what have you.

“We have ways of how we live in harmony and I think we will continue to do that. Don’t forget, and I’m saying this again with all due humility and sense of responsibility, that in the context of we Yorubas, we know our pre-eminent status.

The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland,Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona,Ogbagba II declined to speak with newsmen as he just said, “I want to say hello to you….there is no problem gentlemen, please. Thank you very much”.

In his own reaction about the meeting, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV spoke about his efforts to resolve the dispute between the striking workers and Ogun state government.

“I have come to see my governor for many things, including the strike action of the workers and I’m very sure they would go back to work very soon by the grace of God”, the monarch assured.

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One Comment

Aare says:

March 16, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Governor Amosun, Sir,

With all due respect, you did not intervene last week, when the Awujale wrote 9 paragraphs of diatribe and insults at a fellow Oba, out of 20 paragraphs of his address at a public function.
Yet, when Egba chiefs rise beautifully to the occasion with factual evidence and show the Awujale how royalty should speak, you quickly calls a meeting to save face for the Awujale.

But nobody wants to call a spade a spade, and tell the Awujale the truth.

Everyone knows that the Awujale is VERY VINDICTIVE and NEVER FORGIVES any slight, no matter how small.

He fought Awolowo because of his self-interest in Akintola’s daughter, fought Ijebu’s only civilian governor,Onabanjo, because he was a disciple of Awolowo, fought his own late blood brother to the death because of their parents’ property, fought his best friend, the late Ogbeni Oja, Chief Bayo Kuku, to the death for advising him to make peace with his brother in the interest of their family, fought the few Ijebu Obas who dared him and sent their staffs of office to Chief Bayo Kuku’s funeral, fought the late Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo to the death for claiming his birthright, fought the late Ooni because he could not respect the Ooni’s age or position, fought Obasanjo and the Remo people over the proposal of Makun/Sagamu for Ogun State’s Capital in 1976, fought Diya for proposing Odogbolu as Ijebu capital during Abacha’s era, fought Obasanjo again for proposing Ikenne as Ijebu capital during his civilian administration, and recently embarassed Jonathan and his office because Muazu said “Ijebus were stingy”. He is still fighting Ijebu Igbo over Orimolusi’s crown,and now he has added the Alake and all Egbas to the list out of his pride and ego

However, he chose the wrong adversary this time as the Alake is no pushover. It was not for nothing that the late Chief of Staff, General Tunde Idiagbon, chose this fine officer and graduate of history as his Prinicipal Staff Officer and Director of States Administration during his rule alongside Buhari.

I urge all Yorubas to read between the lines, and see clearly that it is better the Alake fights this battle now and puts Oba Adetona in his rightful place, because sooner or later, Oba Adetona’s unbridled ego will (as is his nature) get the better of him and he will go ahead to disrespect and belittle the new Ooni.
Just the same as he he publicly ridiculed both the crown and person of the late Ooni Sijuwade.
Just the same as he fought Awolowo and his political leadership of the Yorubas and worked against all the Yorubas to ensure Awolowo never became president of this country.

Yoruba Ronu!