By Peter Adedoyin
As indigenes of Owu Abeokuta, in Ogun State, await the announcement of the new Olowu of Owu, one of the princes and contestant to the throne, Prince Sunday Aremu Adelanwa, has appealed to the kingmakers to reverse the selection process and comply with traditional process.
Adelanwa, appealed to the kingmakers to respect the tradition by consulting with the Yoruba deities in choosing the next Olowu.
It could be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and kingmakers of the Owu kingdom in Ogun State screened seven princes jostling for the Olowu of Owu stool in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Obasanjo, who is the Balogun of the Owu kingdom led other Kingmakers in the statutory selection process, which lasted for about seven hours on Wednesday, March 30.
They have however forwarded the list of the elected candidates to the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for approval and announcement of the new Olowu.
The Otileta Ruling House, following the notice by the Abeokuta North Local Government area, as the ruling house to produce the next Olowu of Owu had screened 12 princes, who were nominated by five compounds that made up the Ruling House.
But reacting to the whole process, Adelanwa specifically appealed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the head of the Owu Kingmakers to respect tradition by allowing the outcome of the consultations with the Yoruba deities to prevail in the process of enthroning the next Olowu.
Adelanwa, in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, alleged that the entire selection process was fraught with irregularities, particularly when customs and traditions which hitherto, is the main determinant on the choice of an Oba, was jettisoned.
While alleging irregularities in the selection process, Adelanwa further explained that a particular prince, was at the onset, a member of the selection team for the next Olowu stool before his detour to contest the stool.
Adelanwa alleged that the prince's membership of the selection team, ultimately influenced the choice of the Owu kingmakers.
Adelanwa said the selection process, was a violation of the laid down procedures for the selection of anyone that should occupy the throne as the next Olowu of Owu Kingdom.
He therefore, appealed to Obasanjo to use his position as Balogun Owu and the head of the kingmakers of Owu Kingdom to completely reverse the process that led to the nomination presented to the government.
He warned that failure to respect tradition in the choice of an Olowu of Owu Abeokuta Kingdom would set a bad precedence for future record in the kingdom.
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