How Amosun, D-G, SSG, Ojuko resolved Alake, Awujale feud

…Oba Gbadebo’s chief reveals behind the scene moves

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NIGERIA: CONTRARY to claims by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, facts have emerged on how government brokered peace between the feuding royal fathers.

Amosun and the two royal fathers, after over an hour meeting on Wednesday at the Governor’s Office, Okemosan, Abeokuta, said their meeting was not in connection with the settlement of the rift generated over seniority tussle between the traditional rulers.

Awujale had told reporters that there was no rift between him and Alake, a claim that was in contrast with the exchange of words lately over seniority cadre in Yorubaland with Alake, who ranked his stool above Awujale.

Barely a month and three days after, an apparently angry Oba Adetona fired back, claiming that not only that Oba Gbadebo was junior to him, he was of equal status with lower traditional rulers under his authority.

But contrary to what they told journalists after the meeting, indeed Amosun summoned the royal fathers to douse the tension between them, saying he took the measure quickly before “people outside the state” would intervene.

According to Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland, Chief Layi Ayinde Labode, the governor, his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko indeed brokered the peace between Awujale and Alake.

“The Executive Governor of Ogun State in his usual swift and proactive manner came in decisively to put off the festering embers of disharmony and disunity among Ogun State Traditional Rulers,” Labode, who is the Olootu of Ijaiye, Abeokuta said.

Labode, who is the Media Adviser to Oba Gbadebo, explained that Amosun addressed him and the Dagburewe of

Idowa, Oba Y.A. Adekoya, who accompanied Oba Adetona, on government’s efforts to douse the tension created by the feud over seniority between the two traditional rulers.

“According to the Governor he could not wait for people outside the state to come and resolve such situation for the state,” Labode said, adding: “On Wednesday 16 March 2016, Senator Ibikunle Amosun invited both Oba Alake, His Majesty Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and Awujale, His Majesty, Oba Sikiru Adetona to the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office for a royal and harmonious discussion.”

“Those at the meeting with the Governor were the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Adeoluwa Taiwo and the Honorable Commissioner to (sic) the Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko,” he added.

The Aare Baaroyin further said: “About one hour into the meeting the Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun came into the waiting room to address both Kabiesi Oba Dagburewe of Idowa and Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland, asking the two of them to deliver his message of peace to the Ijebus and the Egbas, that he had totally and finally discussed with the two foremost traditional rulers.

“He enjoined both Egba and Ijebu chiefs and people should promote unity through love, understanding and concord among the two groups as well as the entire Ogun State.”

Labode also said: “Kabiesi Dagburewe and Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland assured the Governor that his message of peaceful co-existence among various groups in Ogun State would be fully deliver to all appropriate quarters.

“Thereafter, the Governor went back to the Executive Chamber to continue his meeting with the two Ogun State paramount rulers.  The meeting ended some one and half hour.”

But, Oba Adetona, while briefing reporters after the meeting, said that the visit to the governor had nothing to do with the feud.

“I want to say hello to you….there is no problem gentlemen, please.  Thank you very much.  There is no crisis between us, thank you,” Awujale told reporters after the meeting.

Also, Oba Gbadebo said that the parley with the governor was not in connection with the imbroglio generated between him and his Ijebu monarch counterpart.

Alake said: “I have come to see my governor for many things, including the strike action‎ of the workers, and I’m very sure they would go back to work very, very soon by the grace of God.”

However, Amosun told reporters that the meeting, which began at 3.45pm and lasted for one hour, was not in connection with the rift over seniority between the two first class traditional rulers.

All the chiefs who accompanied the traditional rulers were barred from attending the parley.

“I don’t want you to go and write anything out of context,” the Governor said.   “Yes, we are here, our fathers are here to see me. Of course, we deliberated on so many things. I’m sure you want to say what is happening.  Indeed, nothing is happening.”

He added: “They came here to see the possibility of how to make sure we have peace‎ in the state, among so many other things that we did.  Don’t forget that this would be the first time I would have the opportunity.  I have shown my appreciation before for the 40th anniversary, so it’s an opportunity for me to still show that.”

“So, if you think you want to ask what is the outcome, outcome of what?  We have come here to deliberate and as always, it’s always a pleasure for me to have our fathers around here,” the Governor said.

Amosun further explained: “These are the people writing the thing.  Don’t just sit somewhere and write. But this one, there is nothing like ranking of Obas.  We know ourselves. Our fathers, they have ways, even before the advent of all these colonial masters and what have you, we have ways of how we live in harmony and I think we will continue to do that.

“Don’t forget, and I’m saying this again with all due humility and sense of responsibility, that in the context of we Yorubas, we know our pre-eminence status.  Those of us from Ogun State, so, we want to keep up with that tradition.”

He also said: “We are not going to fan any ember of disunity.  What we are known for in Ogun State is that all of us are one and we are still one.  Indeed, in the comity of the Yorubas, we know what we do, we know what we stand for and we will continue to do that.”