Oba Makama Hosts 29th Owu National Convention, As Obasanjo Calls For Unity Among Owu People

Owu sons and daughters across the globe were on Saturday converged at the palace of the Olowu of Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude for annual Owu National Convention.

The annual meetings are hosted by each Olowu and the 2020 convention which is 29th Owu National convention was hosted by Oba Makama.

The record has it that, since the dispersal of Owu people from their homestead at Owu Ipole or Orile Owu in Osun State in the 1821-1826 pogrom levied against them by allied forces of Ijebu, Ife, Oyo and others who despised their obstinacy, bravery and repulsion against the breach of commonwealth order to stop slavery and checkmate slave traders, the people had scattered to settle in different communities of Nigeria and in Diaspora

According to CityMirrorNews findings, as a descendant of venerated pedigree, Oduduwa, Olowu Ajibosin, the father figure of all Owus, was the primus beneficial of the original crown granted him by Oduduwa inter vivos ahead of his cousins to whom several other crowns were devolved after the demise of the legendary Yoruba king.

The record added that Johnson recalled that the Owu war marked a definite period of Yoruba history as it was the first time gun powder and other sophisticated war weapons were used in wars in the country,in consequence, there was devastation of the Egba townships and the foundation of modern Abeokuta and Ibadan, followed which the Owu people, after escaping from their embattled city, in the like manner of the Jews wisely sought refuge in several directions of Nigeria, found new homes, settled and replicated the ancient Owu crown, thus become the largest clan in Yoruba race with inherited singular dynastic heritage – Owu crown.

Today, there are several Owu townships and settlements in Abeokuta district of Ogun State, and besides Abeokuta where they have their paramount traditional head in Oba Olowu of Owu Kingdom, several villages in the hinterland of Abeokuta district, found by Owu people after their arrival at Abeokuta, have metamorphosed into towns and cities and now with Owu crowned kings.

The record show that,among these settlements are, Awowo, Akinale, Lapeleke, Onigbedu. Abule Owu, Papalanto. Abalabi, Arigbajo, Ejio, Onihale, Ibogun-Olaogun, Ibogun Balogun, Ibogun Oshugboye, Orile Ifo, to mention a few.

Other Owu townships as members of the Union are Owu Omu-Ijebu, Owu-Ijebu, Owu Ikija, Owu Iji, Owu Aiyepe (in Ogun State); Owu Agbowa Ikosi, Owu Epe, Owu Mushin, (in Lagos state); Orile Owu, Owu Ikire, Owu Modakeke, Owu Gbongan, Ilemo Owu, Owu Telemu, Owu Kuta, Owu-Epe-Ijesa (in Osun State): Owu Ogbere, Owu Ibadan, Owu Erunmu, Owu Ajaawa, Owu Ogbomoso, Owu Erunmu (in Oyo state) and Owu Oke-Ode, Owu Obaloyan and Owu Isin (in Kwara state).

Speaking at the 29th Osun National Convention, former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo called for more unity in Owu land just as he advised the Owu people to do more in helping one another.

Obasanjo who said Owu people are very hard-working and their not a lazy people adding that the people of Owu land do not steal.

According to him, any Owu indigene involved in the act of stealing should be investigated.

He added that such a person may not be true son or daughter of the Owu People.

Explaining the rationale behind the convention, Obasanjo, who is also an Owu Indigene, said it was for all indigenes of Owu to know one another and develop their land.

According to him, “Owu People do not steal. If you steal any Owu indigene stealing, ask the mother where she brought him from. I want us (Owu indigenes) to be more United. We are doing empowerment and giving out scholarship.”

He congratulated the new president of Royal Union of Owu People, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and tasked him to unite indigenes and ensure growth of the people of Owu.

The Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama who hosted the convention expressed hope that Nigeria would summount its security challenges.

He urged sons and daughters of Owu to be more United and work together for the development of Owu People.

Oba Makama who is also the Chairman of Supreme Council of Owu Obas, said that the reduction of traditional rulers’ powers is worsening security issues in the country.

According to the Oba, if the traditional institution is given its rightful place by being powerful and strong, security challenges in Nigeria would be a thing of the past.

The monarch enjoined Nigerians and political office holders to restore traditional institution’s powers, noting that it was worrisome that monarchs have limitations in their roles.

He said it was absurd that constitutionally, monarchs have to take permission from Local Government Secretary before leaving the town, says it reduces the powers of monarchs in Yoruba land.

According to him, “Obas in Yoruba Land should not only be influential, they should be powerful too.”

He urged the generation of youths to take back the power from politicians adding that “Our sons and daughters in political offices should have a rethink and do the needful. The colonialists met Nigeria well organised.

“They (colonial Masters) have to reduce monarchial powers to be able to penetrate well. If monarchs are given constitutional roles, insecurities will be tamed.

“That 5 percent Local Government allocation is given to Obas is grossly inadequate. Most traditional rulers are not finding it easy,” the frontline traditional ruler noted.

Meanwhile, the Royal Union of Owu People (RUOP) has elected Alhaji Fatai Akinbade President of the Union.

At the inauguration of the 7th RUOP National Executive Committee, Akinbade promised to ensure that Owu People develop rapidly.

He appealed to Owu sons and daughters who are in various Yoruba sociocultural groups to always strive to make the difference but giving their best so as to make the nation great.

The guest lecturer at the convention, the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Prof Joshua O. Ogunwole said diversities in Nigerian language and culture should advantageous to the country.

Delivering his lecture entitled: “Harmony in Owu Polity, a Recipe For National Unity,” Ogunwole said “language, territorial and ethnic diversities are no excuses for a paralysed economy, epileptic security and a weakened identity of the Nigerian peoples.

“In the reality of the indispensability of interactions and contact in the global village, Nigeria could adopt relevant traits and values from apparently United cultures. However, she must incorporate these external influences to fit into the indigenous administrative patterns and models provided by the Owu nation.”