- Ex president urges Obas to respect Governors
- swears in new exco for Owu people
- Ooni commends ex president as Nigeria’s unification factor
Former President Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo, foremost traditional Owu war general, being welcomed by the Chairman, Supreme Council of Owu Obas and the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama Oyelude, Tegbosun the Third, to Kuta, venue of the 29th Owu National Convention … on December 5, 2020
By Banji Ayoola
Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday called on the Yoruba people to stand as the bedrock promoting harmony, peace, unity and progress of the nation.
Besides, he counselled the Owu segment of the Yoruba race to channel their innate endowments to provide exemplary leadership wherever fate places them, in furthering true development of their Country Nigeria and the entire mankind.
Obasanjo, Balogun Owu, the foremost Owu traditional Owu war general, and the chief host, spoke at the weekend at Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State, at the 29th Owu National Convention.
He delivered a goodwill message after swearing in a 25 member new executive committee of the Royal Union of Owu People, RUOP, to run the union’s affairs between next year and 2022.
He paid glowing tributes to the departed monarchs and members, and expressed special gratitude to the Olowu Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama Oyelude, for hosting the gathering a second time in four years, even at short notice.
Also at the occasion, Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, praised the Yoruba people for their role being played in fostering peace and unity of Nigeria.
He described the Yoruba as hospitable and accommodating people who believe in oneness of the nation.
On the theme of the convention, “Harmony in Owu Polity: A recipe for national unity,” Oyetola described the Yoruba race as a believer in the harmony and oneness of the nation, adding that the migration of other ethnic groups to their territories and settlements is not an issue because they are accommodating and hospitable.
Specifically, the former president commended the warm relationship between Governor Oyetola and Oba Adekunle as he advised the royal father to continuosly respect the governor.
In his characteristic bluntness, Obasanjo, speaking in Yoruba, turned to the royal father who stood by him on the podium admonishing: “I thank you because you cooperate with Osun government. The Governor respects you because you respect him. If you disrespect the Governor, he too would disrespect you. Please don’t disrespect the Governor.”
Obasanjo, who holds the highest Owu chieftaincy title of Anlugbua the second, is the grand patron and founder of RUOP.
He said: “I thank the Almighty Who granted us today. This is the 29th convention. I thank the Lord so much.
“Secondly I thank all our obas dead and alive because without their cooperation, we couldn’t be here.
“Thirdly I thank Kabiesi Olowu Kuta for accepting to host this convention at short notice.
“I am surprised. When we came here four years ago, this place was marshy. There were no houses, but just ramparts. And you have changed and improved on this. You have turned forest into town. Ha! The King who turns forest into a city, we would talk about him. Thank you. May you progress. You will wear the crown and shoes for long.”
While swearing the 25 member new executive committee, Obasanjo said: ‘In the Name of the Almighty Father and the names of our obas, in the name of the origin of Owu that you come before us.
“Before I ask you to say after me, I want to explain. Those who had done this work before you tried a lot; and that is why we are here today. I thank the out-gone President Gen Ekundayo Opaleye.
“Where we are today, we thank the Lord, recall what the oba Fulani in Lagos, Okere of Saki, Baba wa Ooni and the guest lecturer said about Owu. All these should encourage us. I am always happy wherever I am.
“They said that Owu l’a ko da, bi e ba d’Owu e beere wo, won ni ti a ba de Ife e beere wo. B’ee ba de Ife, bee naa le e ba. Won ni be e ba de’le o, e kakan wo. B’ee ba k’akan, bee naa l’ee ba.
“I appeal to you incoming executives. Say after me mentioning your names… I, as executive committee member of Owu RUOP, I will use all my body, heart and strength to work for the progress of Owu. All the children of Owu far and near that I can help, I will help them. All the Owu obas and elders, I will respect them. May the Lord grant me the strength to do these.”
In his own speech, the Ooni of Ife and Arole Oduduwa, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by the Sooko of Ife. Prince Sooko Kemade Olugbade, showered encomiums on Obasanjo for being a unification factor for Nigeria.
The Ooni who directed his representative to be prompt knowing that “Baba Obasanjo would be on seat here,” said in Yoruba: “I am very delighted about what happens here today. Why am I happy?
“Baba Obasanjo is someone that I see as a unification factor throughout the country. The hand phones came to Nigeria through him. Baba Obasanjo, thank you.
“He was named Okikiola. He is known all over. He was named Olusegun. He won victory for us during the civil war. After he won that victory, with Operation Feed the Nation, he conquered hunger.”
He said that Obasanjo served all the nation’s ethnic groups and even outside the shores of this country, adding that the former President had also been standing by him.
He said: “Baba Obasanjo stands by me solidly. Until midnight of 27th, Baba Obasanjo and I were together. I am grateful to you. I am grateful to all Owu children. Our gratitude would never cease in Ile Ife.
“When Baba Obasanjo was in power, he appointed our two sons, Femi Fani-Kayode and Awotorebo, ministers. We will continue expressing our gratitude for that.
“Baba wa ni ki ngbadura fun wa. Won ni nnkan meta ni ode ki i pa. ode ki i pa’san, e o ni i pa’san. Won ni ode ki i pa ofo, won ni e e ni i p’ofo ni Owu. Won ni ode ki i pa’danu, won ni gbogbo Owu line, e e ni i pa’danu. Won sit un ni ki n so fun yin wipe nnkan merin l’o wa: afaato, aleeba, aba’amu, ati amubo. Won ni ikankan ko ni i je tiyin.”
In his own speech, Oba Oyelude praised Obasanjo for his commitment to Owu development and national course; and rged his kinsmen to be good ambassadors of Owu in their various communities.
He said the Owu have been involved in every progress recorded so far in Nigeria saying: “Owu is one because of the unity among us. we are the largest sub ethnic group though we may have challenges.
“The Jews scattered after the holocaust. Ours happened before theirs. We lost one thing and got back 1000 things. Death and Satan won’t divide or separate us. This year’s convention should have held in Ijebu Igbo but for challenges.
This year’s is different because we have a new president who takes over from Gen Opaleye who led well. I welcome you all to this convention. Nigeria has never witnessed any progress without involvement of Owu.”
The Vice Chancellor of BOWEN University, Iwo, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, delivered a lecture titled “Harmony of Owu Polity: A Recipe for National Development,” where he recommended among others that “Nigeria could adopt relevant traits and values from apparently united cultures” such as exist among the Owu people to unify the peoples of the country.
The new 25 member RUOP Executive Committee sworn in by Obasanjo is led by a former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade as President.
He promised to lead the executive members to deliver the mandate of Owu people.
Earlier at a church service which held in the Olowu palace, Revd Olayioye Emmanuel, had in a moving sermon listed seven reasons why Nigerians should thank the Lord.
These are because:
- He promised the people a brighter future despite the tribulation Nigeria is going through;
- He is the One Who forgives our sins;
- It is a sin to forget all His goodness. Whenever you give thanks unto Him, be assured of another tangible gift;
- He heals all the diseases. Covid-19 taught us lessons. He is the One Who healed our land;
- He redeems our life from sudden death;
- He crowns us with His Love and Compassion. Nigeria is the number one nation the Lord shows the greatest Love and Compassion; and
- He satisfies our desires with good things.
The previous day on Friday, Oba Oyelude had led his brother obas to the Lt Tukur Yusuf Buratai Bridge over Osun River linking Kuta, Ikoyi and Ede together and also to the world which was completed by the Nigerian Army on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, who also commissioned it on September 14.
Oba Oyelude, speaking in Yoruba, prayed profusely for Buratai as he explained the wonder to his excited and marveling brother obas: “All that is entrusted to Buratai will never be spoilt. He helped us crush an age long curse.
“We spoke together in an evening at his residence. He asked me whether I wanted anything; did I have papers to collect contracts? I said I had the papers but that I did not want contract.
“I told him I wanted him to do only one thing for me for which my name would remain evergreen in the minds of my people. He asked for that thing. I said bridge. He said bridge? And he burst into laughter and asked whether he should call our governor. I asked him not to call him because of the state’s economic situation.
“He said OK and asked for the bridge’s length. I asked Sobalaju. I said I did not know the length. He asked if I brought letter headings to Abuja. I said yes. He said when I got to the apartment, I should write the request and send it to him. I wrote it and sent it through my DSS Detail to take it to him in the office the following day.
“We were still in Abuja when soldiers got to my palace. He had not closed in the office and he gave approval to construct. That was the first thing he wrote there; saying even if he left office the following day, it must be done. He himself came to commission the bridge on 14 September. It is now history.
“May the Almighty do good things in all Owu kingdoms. May He send merciful helpers to all of us as a whole. This is the first historical place we are visiting. It is not this bridge alone.
“There is another smaller one over Edoro river. Wherever Owu is, we are always in the midst of challenges. Nevertheless, the Lord has been making us victorious. We are grateful. Thank you all.”
Going down the memory lane, Oba Oyelude told his visiting brother obas who were happy like babies: “During the Babangida regime when there were SDP and NRC, Kingibe was SDP chairman. His deputy, Augustus Babalola, was a son of Kuta. What he promised Kuta was this bridge.
“During the Western Region, before they created states, the Surveyor General was Prince Adedapo. He was from here. Then again in the Third Republic, they had not created states then, Kuta produced a senator, Senator Akinboro. He promised only one thing from Lagos then.
“The way the Lord did it for me just within eight years, He will do the same for all of you.”
Responding, an elated Oba Fakayode Faluade Anikinnikun, the Olu of Ibogun in Ogun State, told Oba Oyelude: “Kabiesi, may you live long. Emi yin a gun. Igba irunmole a ba yin se e. awon t’o ti d’ade nile yii won a je ki e pe.
“Oju yin o ni i fo. Emi yin a gun. Owo yin ko ni ro. Ese yin o ni i ro. L’oruko awon baba mi t’o wa n’bi, Kabiesi Elejio, Kabiesi oba Faluade, Olubogun, gbogbo wa ati awon omo baba mi t’o wa n’bi ni awon Kabiesi alayeluwa, won a je k’emi yin gun. E e ni i f’ojo olojo lo o.
“Eleyii je iwuri fun gbogbo awa ti a je omo Anlugbua, ti a je representatives Owu n’le at’oko, both home and abroad. Inu mi dun fun yin Sir, lati wa ba yin se ayo eleyii. Nitoripe ti eeyan ba je omo ti won fi aje to t’o ba wo otun, t’o wo osi t’o ba ri oun t’o wan bi, a a mo pe billions l’o sun sibi.
“Oun ti mo fi nba yin yo ni wipe o wa a je asiko ti e j’oba, ti e gb’ade s’ori ninu ilu Kuta. E ku oriire o. E e ni i kan’ju ku o; eni ba ni ki e ku a gba iku yin ku. Eni ba ni ki e ye a ye. B’o se maa ri niyen o. eyii t’o tun ju ‘yii lo, Olorun a tun gbee wa ilu yii. O si maa gbe e wa si ilu wa nikookan. B’o se maa ri niyen o. Olorun ko ni i se yin ni eyin nikan.”
Also, Oba Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi, Olorile of Orile Ifo, the cradle of Ifoland, a first class oba, said: “E je k’a fi ohun Oodua si gbogbo ohun ti Kabiesi nso lat’aaro; tori Oloun ni t’Oun ba se oore fun wa k’a maa dupe ni. O ni ko si oun ti Oun fe e gba bi kii s’ope. B’a a pa maalu, oun o ni i je.
“Ifa naa de wa a so o. O ni ope, ope, awo labalaba d’ifa fun labalaba. Labalaba wa nt’ile orun bo w a s’ile aye, nje mo waa du’pe t’emi. T’aa ba se ni l’oore ope la nda, mo wa a d’upe t’emi. Nitori naa, ope ni nnkan akoko ti a gbodo maa se. Ope naa l’e fi nhan yii.
“Olorun Eledumare, Oba t’O ju gbogbo aye ati ode orun, A maa gb’ope yin. A a gb’ope gbogbo wa t’a wan’bi. Gbogbo ibi ti oro olukaluku wa ku si, Oluwa a ba wa se e. Inu yin a dun. Ayo yin a kun, e e gbo, e e to, e e f’owo pa’wu, e e f’erigi agba j’obi. Oun ire l’e maa maa ri tori ire ni gbegbele maa nke. Gbegbele ki i fo’un ki’un. Ire tubo maa de fun yin ni. Gbogbo awa oba t’o wa n’bi, ire a maa de fun wa. Ohun ire l’a maa maa ri, a a ni i r’ibi, a a ni i r’eemo.
“Won ni k’onile o gun’yan poro, k’o bo’ri alejo; k’alejo naa o gun’yan poro k’o bo’ri on’ile. A d’ifa f’Ogbere ti ns’awo lo s’ode Owu. Ogbere awo Olowu d’ifa fun Olowu kangun ere amiwo aja. Won ni k’o wa a ru’bo… Olowu gbo gbo gbo, Olowu d’ota. Ogbere gbo gbo gbo, oun naa d’omi. Ogbere d’odo, o la’ye ja. E e gbo, e e to. Bee l’o se maa ri fun gbogbo wa. A a se bee o.”
5.12.20
Sermon Revd Olayioye Emmanuel
We should thank the Lord because
- He promised brighter future for us. Despite the tribulation Nigeria is going through, because He promised us a good future, we should thank Him.
- He is the One Who forgives our sins.
- It is a sin to forget all His goodness. Whenever you give thanks unto Him, be assured of another tangible gift.
- He heals all the diseases. Covid-19 taught us lessons. He is the One Who healed our land.
- He redeems your life from sudden death.
- He crowns us with His Love and Compassion. Nigeria is the number one nation the Lord shows the greatest Love and Compassion.
- He satisfies your desires with good things.
Alhaji Fatai Akinbade On behalf of Gen Ekundayo Opaleye
Greetings to all kabiesis, Owu children home and abroad. Prayed for all. Observed a minute silence for a deceased Alhaji Bolaji Lawal, Youth coordinator for past four years who passed on 14 days ago.
Olowu Kuta
Eze Igbo, Chairman of Fulani traditional rulers in South West welcome. Owu is one because of the unity among us. we are the largest sub ethnic group though we may have challenges. The Jews scattered after the holocaust. Ours happened before theirs. We lost one thing and got back 1000 things. Death and Satan won’t divide or separate us. This year’s convention should have held in Ijebu Igbo but for challenges. This year’s is different because we have a new president who takes over from Gen Opaleye who led well. I welcome you all to this convention. Nigeria has never witnessed any progress without involvement of Owu.
Ooni’s rep Chief Omoniyi, the Sooko of Ife. Prince Sooko Kemade Olugbade
I am very delighted about what happens here today. Why I am happy. He said I should not be late in coming here knowing that Baba Obasanjo would be on seat here. Baba Obasanjo is someone that I see as a unification factor throughout the country. The hand phones came to Nigeria through him. Baba Obasanjo, thank you. He was named Okikiola. He is known all over. He was named Olusegun. He won victory for us during the civil war. After he won that victory, Operation Feed the Nation, he conquered hunger. Baba Obasanjo sanjo fun wa, fun Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Even outside the shores of Nigeria, abroad baba sanjo. That’s why the Yoruba say a s’omo ni Sode, o lo s’ogun o de; a s’omo ni Sobo, omo lo s’ajo o bo. Awon kan s’omo tiwon ni Sorinlo, omo wa lo lo lo omo o de mo. Won wa gb’enu oke won nsunkun. Taani o s’aimo pe oruko omo l’o nro omo. Baba Obasanjo stands by me solidly. Until midnight of 27th, Baba Obasanjo and I were together. I am grateful to you. I am grateful to all Owu children. Our gratitude would never cease in Ile Ife. When Baba Obasanjo was in power, he appointed our two sons, Femi Fani-Kayode and Awotorebo, ministers. We will continue expressing our gratitude for that. Baba wa ni ki ngbadura fun wa. Won ni nnkan meta ni ode ki I pa. ode ki I pa’san, e o ni i pa’san. Won ni ode ki i pa ofo, won ni e e ni I p’ofo ni Owu. Won ni ode ki i pa’danu, won ni gbogbo Owu line, e e ni i pa’danu. Won sit un ni ki n so fun yin wipe nnkan merin l’o wa: afaato, aleeba, aba’amu, ati amubo. Won ni ikankan ko ni i je tiyin.
Obasanjo
In the Name of the Almighty Father and the names of our obas, in the name of the origin of Owu that you come before us. Before I ask you to say after me, I want to explain. Those who had done this work before you tried a lot; and that is why we are here today. I thank the out-gone president Gen Opaleye. Where we are today, we thank the Lord, recall what the oba Fulani in Lagos, Okere of Saki, Baba wa Ooni and the guest lecturer said about Owu. All these should encourage us. I am hallways happy wherever I am. They said that Owu l’a ko da, bi e ba d’Owu e beere wo, won ni ti a ba de Ife e beere wo. B’ee ba de Ife, bee naa le e ba. Won ni be e ba de’le o, e kakan wo. B’ee ba k’akan bee naa l’ee ba. I appeal to you incoming executives. I am not certain that you would surpass your predecessors in office in performance because I have seen it in some of you. I don’t know you all, but kabiesi Olowu Kuta said he knows more. Say after me mentioning your names… I, as executive committee member of Owu RUOP, I will use all my body, heart and strength work for the progress of Owu. All the children of Owu far and near that I can help, I will help them. All the Owu obas and elders, I will respect them. May the Lord grant me the strength to do these.
Fatai Akinbade
Founder of this forum Baba wa Aremu Obasanjo, I greet him a lot. We are happy because we see you, this spurs us to do all we do. May you live long. Greet Olowu Kuta, chairman of Owu obas in Nigeria, all Owu obas. I feel happy because I love to work for my birthplace, more importantly family. We pledge to do all that is necessary to lift Owu higher than it was before. We promise to surpass past executives in achievements. We accept to hold these offices and do all that is necessary to lift Owu higher. I appeal to all Owu children. Past exco achieved a lot like cooperative. We would add to all these, correct wherever necessary. We appeal to Owu youths that we are not identified with dirty things nut we tower above others. I appeal to all, wherever we are, let us be known with good things. Owu chidren do not steal, are not lazy. Our forefathers were powerful. They were hard working. We appeal to you, show yourselves as exemplary leaders wherever you are.
Goodwill message as grand patron
I thank the Almighty Who granted us today. This is the 29th convention. I thank the Lord so much. Secondly I thank all our obas dead and alive because without their cooperation, we couldn’t be here. Thirdly I thank kabiesi Olowu Kuta for accepting to host this convention at short notice. I am surprised. When we came here four years ago, all this place was marshy. There were no houses, but just ogba. And you have changed and improved on this. You have turned forest into town. Ha! The King who turns forest into a city, we would talk about him. Thank you. May you progress. You will wear the crown and shoes for long. I thank you because you cooperate with Osun government. The governor respects you because you respect him. If you disrespect the governor, he too would disrespect you. Please don’t disrespect the governor.
Next year’s convention to hold at Orile Owu.
