By; NIYI OGUNGBOLA, Abeokuta
Following the controversies trailing the choice of the next Olowu of Owu Abeokuta Kingdom, one of the heir apparent to the throne Prince Sunday Adebowale Adelanwa on Monday, appealed to the Kingmakers to immediately reverse the selection process which threw up the new Olowu-elect which allegedly failed to conform with the tradition.
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 of Owu Abeokuta Kingdom.
Adelanwa, who spoke with journalists on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital alleged that the entire selection process was fraught with irregularities, particularly when customs and traditions which hitherto, remains the fulcrum that dictated the choice of an Oba in Owu Abeokuta Kingdom was jettisoned.
While alleging that monetary and other pecuniary gains exchanged hands between the kingmakers, Prince Adelanwa further explained that one of the candidates for Olowu’s stool, Archbishop (Dr.) Adegbemi Adewale was at the onset, a member of the selection team for the next Olowu before his detour to contest the stool.
Alleging that his membership of the selection team ultimately influenced the choice of the Owu kingmakers, Adelanwa said Adegbemi’s alleged emergence was a violation of the laid down procedures for the selection of anyone that should occupy the throne as the next Olowu of Owu Abeokuta Kingdom.
He however, appealed to the former president Obasanjo to use his position as Balogun Owu and the head of the kingmakers of Owu Abeokuta Kingdom to completely reverse the process that allegedly threw up the Archbishop in order to correct the anomalies.
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.
