Royal families petition Ogun govt, warns against appointment of non-indigene as new Olowu

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

A Prince, Tajudeen Adelani and a Princess, Aminat Adesina, from two royal families, have separately petitioned the Ogun State government, warning against the appointment of Prince Saka Matemilola as the Olowu of Owu.

They described the prince as a non-indigene of the Owu kingdom.

Matemilola (Ile Soke), is one of the seven princes screened by Owu kingmakers, led by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday 30th March, 2022.

They were nominated by the Otileta Ruling House, the next in line to produce the new Olowu.
Other candidates are; an Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Adegbemi Adewale (Ile Aderinoye), Adelani Oladimeji (Ile Omoleefon), Olatidoye Olaniyi (Ile Soke).

Adeyanju Bakinson (Ile Otopo) Simeon Soyele (Ile Lumosa) and Adesina Adelani (Ile Soke).

Obasanjo, who is the Balogun of Owu on March 30, led other Kingmakers in a seven-hour statutory selection process which should produce the next Olowu.

It was gathered that the kingmakers has forwarded their report to Governor Dapo Abiodun who is expected to announce the next Olowu after the screening exercise.

However, the two petitioners from the royal families have asked Governor Abiodun and the Obasanjo-led kingmakers to be wary of appointing a “non-indigene” as the next Olowu.

Adelani is said to be a delegate representative of Ile Omoleefon, one of the compounds that make up Otileta Ruling House, while Princess Adesina is the Secretary of Aderinoye compound in the same Ruling House.

Adelani and Adesina in their separate petitions to the ministries of justice, local government and chieftaincy affairs, said Matemilola “is a native of Ibadan in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State”, making him ineligible to the throne of the Olowu.

They insisted that the candidate had alluded to his Ibadan indigeneship in an affidavit he swore to, dated May 15, 2000, at the High Court Registry, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Adelani, in his petition, said, “In the form submitted by Prince Saka Adelola Matemilola, it was discovered that he is not from Ile Soke which he claimed (evidence attached) but the house and the kingmakers did not take cognizance of it.

“This to us is a criminal offence and we should not allow a criminal to become our king.”

On her part, Adesina said Matemilola is “unqualified being a non-indigene” to the throne and appealed to Governor Abiodun and the kingmakers to “stop the desecration of our customs and tradition in Owu kingdom.”

When contacted, Matemilola described the affidavit where he swore to being a native of Ibadan as “correct and consistent.”

He, however, declined further comment on his alleged non-indigene of the Owu kingdom.
Matemilola said, “What I am saying is that affidavit is absolutely correct and consistent and I also have birth certificate to it which shows I was born in Ibadan. So, just check the consistency of that; check the meaning of the word ‘native’ as oppose to the word ‘indigene,’ then do your story.

“Apart from that, no other reaction from me.”

The Olowu stool became vacant, following the demise of the late Oba Adegboyega Dosumu, who joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021.