Obasanjo bows down as Olowu of Owu-designate begins his journey to the throne
Indigenous Owu and Kingmakers of Ogun State received the chosen Olowu of Owu, Saka Matemilola, on Monday as the Associate Professor began his journey to the throne of his ancestors.
>Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Balogun of Owu, received the designated Olowu at his private residence in Ita-Eko alongside notable leaders from the ancient town of Abeokuta Local Government Area North.
Mr. Culture-loving Obasanjo bowed to welcome the new traditional ruler, just as natives and community residents celebrated the historic reception of the future monarch.
Prior to his selection as an Olowu candidate, Mr. Matemilola was a petroleum engineer and associate professor at the African University of Science and Technology.
The last Olowu of Owu, Adegboyega Dosunmu, passed away in December last year, after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.
Candidate Olowu was then taken to Alake Palace and Supreme Ruler of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, to pay a courtesy visit and then taken to Oke-Ago Owu to begin his isolation as part of the process of his coronation.
The state government is expected to announce the date of his coronation.
Some Egba natives who attended the ceremony included Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale, a veteran journalist; Niyi Adegbenro, the Osi Owu; Bode Mustapha, Osi of Egbaland; Doja Adewolu, Agoro of Egbaland; Ogooluwa Bankole, President of Premier Paints; and Johnson Olu-Fatoki, Asiwaju-Apomu of the Owo Kingdom, among others
Mr. Obasanjo, in his address, assured the new traditional ruler of the cooperation of the Owu people to ensure a peaceful and distinguished rule.
“I want to assure you (Matemilola) of my unwavering support and the support of all the sons and daughters of the Owu Kingdom on your journey as the new Olowu of the Owu Kingdom,” Mr. Obasanjo.
The former president urged chiefs and other Owu natives, as well as residents, not to disturb the new traditional leader during his period of isolation.
The Balogun of Owu thanked the Ogun State government for approving the selection of Mr. Metemilola as the successor to the late Oba Adegboyega Dosumu, who joined his ancestors last December.
He also thanked the kingmakers for completing their missions in a short time by occupying the vacant seat of the Owu stool.
"In our history, this is the first time that a new king has taken up a vacant seat in a short period of time," he said.
“We must preserve our culture. Culture is the totality of our existence, and we must not allow it to disappear. We (the kingmakers) have done what we are supposed to do. State has approved his appointment,” he said.
Mr. Adegbenro, while speaking at the ceremony, expressed his joy at the emergence and presentation of Mr. Matemilola as the next of Olowu from the Owu Kingdom, expressing his optimism that his reign will further elevate the community to a greater height.
Indigenous Owu and Kingmakers of Ogun State received the chosen Olowu of Owu, Saka Matemilola, on Monday as the Associate Professor began his journey to the throne of his ancestors.
>Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Balogun of Owu, received the designated Olowu at his private residence in Ita-Eko alongside notable leaders from the ancient town of Abeokuta Local Government Area North.
Mr. Culture-loving Obasanjo bowed to welcome the new traditional ruler, just as natives and community residents celebrated the historic reception of the future monarch.
Prior to his selection as an Olowu candidate, Mr. Matemilola was a petroleum engineer and associate professor at the African University of Science and Technology.
The last Olowu of Owu, Adegboyega Dosunmu, passed away in December last year, after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.
Candidate Olowu was then taken to Alake Palace and Supreme Ruler of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, to pay a courtesy visit and then taken to Oke-Ago Owu to begin his isolation as part of the process of his coronation.
The state government is expected to announce the date of his coronation.
Some Egba natives who attended the ceremony included Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale, a veteran journalist; Niyi Adegbenro, the Osi Owu; Bode Mustapha, Osi of Egbaland; Doja Adewolu, Agoro of Egbaland; Ogooluwa Bankole, President of Premier Paints; and Johnson Olu-Fatoki, Asiwaju-Apomu of the Owo Kingdom, among others
Mr. Obasanjo, in his address, assured the new traditional ruler of the cooperation of the Owu people to ensure a peaceful and distinguished rule.
“I want to assure you (Matemilola) of my unwavering support and the support of all the sons and daughters of the Owu Kingdom on your journey as the new Olowu of the Owu Kingdom,” Mr. Obasanjo.
The former president urged chiefs and other Owu natives, as well as residents, not to disturb the new traditional leader during his period of isolation.
The Balogun of Owu thanked the Ogun State government for approving the selection of Mr. Metemilola as the successor to the late Oba Adegboyega Dosumu, who joined his ancestors last December.
He also thanked the kingmakers for completing their missions in a short time by occupying the vacant seat of the Owu stool.
"In our history, this is the first time that a new king has taken up a vacant seat in a short period of time," he said.
“We must preserve our culture. Culture is the totality of our existence, and we must not allow it to disappear. We (the kingmakers) have done what we are supposed to do. State has approved his appointment,” he said.
Mr. Adegbenro, while speaking at the ceremony, expressed his joy at the emergence and presentation of Mr. Matemilola as the next of Olowu from the Owu Kingdom, expressing his optimism that his reign will further elevate the community to a greater height.
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