…Holds secret meeting with royal fathers
From Segun Olatunji, Abeokuta
OGUN State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday intervened in the supremacy feud between the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona and Alake of Abeokuta, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
Amosun held a three-hour closed door meeting with the royal fathers in his office yesterday.
The two first class monarchs and their supporters had been engaged in a war of words over ranking of obas in Yorubaland.
Last month, during a visit by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to the Alake’s palace in Abeokuta, he ranked Awujale least of the five top ranking monarchs in Yorubaland.
While the Awujale was accompanied to the venue of the meeting with the governor by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, the Alake had on his side his media adviser who also doubles as the Ba’aroyin of Egbaland, Alhaji Lai Labode.
But, Oba Adekoya and Labode were excluded from the closed-door meeting. Also, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga who earlier entered the venue of the meeting to exchange pleasantries with the two royal fathers, was shut out of the meeting.
Similarly, commissioners and other members of the state executive council were also not allowed to attend the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the governor and the two monarchs evaded questions from newsmen who had kept vigil at the Governor’s Office while the closed-door meeting lasted. The two royal fathers al
so declined to make comments on issues discussed at the secret meeting.
The governor later saw off the monarchs.While the Awujale drove away in a black Mercedes Benz 5550 with registration number JBD 974 AA, the Alake left the governor’s office few minutes thereafter in a cream colour Lexus 570 with number plate AAA 10 RF.
Daily Sun, however, gathered from sources at the governor’s office that during the meeting, Amosun gave the monarchs the opportunity to explain their positions on the vexed issue of the ranking of Yoruba Obas.
The governor was said to have impressed it on them that it had become imperative for the two first class monarchs to sheath their swords in the interest of peace in the state.
