Obasanjo, Others Settle Rift Among Egba Monarchs

The age-long rivalry and rancour among the four foremost traditional rulers in Egbaland was on Saturday resolved as the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former president Olusegun Obasanjo; head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and foremost industrialist, Chief Olatunde Abudu, intervened and successfully brokered peace among the warring monarchs.

Amosun, Obasanjo, Shonekan and Abudu successfully persuaded the four monarchs- the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Halidu Olaloko and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, at the end of over two-hour close door meeting held at the Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, to bury the hatchet and come together to work for the unity of Egbaland.

The Deputy Governor (Operations), Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo and the Bagbimo of Egbaland, Chief Femi Majekodunmi were among the other prominent Egba indigenes at the Saturday meeting.

Our correspondent learnt that a perennial leadership tussle over which of them should exercise authority and control over certain sections of Egbaland had degenerated into crisis and cold war among the four monarchs.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Amosun said resolving the differences among the royal fathers had become imperative for the unity of Egba people.

He enjoined the monarchs to permanently sheathe their swords and focus more on the development of their homestead.

Obasanjo who served as the chairman of the reconciliation committee commended the governor’s initiative.

He said, “When the governor gave us the task on November 3, I believed many of us had no hope that we could get to this level. There’s no doubt in my mind that our Kabiyesis are genuine in what we have achieved today. In whatever human beings are doing, there are likely to be frictions.

“I know that this reconciliation will last for a number of reasons. I was with the monarchs, I read their lips and body languages and I knew they were genuine. Dialogue, communication and God assisted us in achieving this feat.”

Reading a two-page communique signed by the traditional rulers, Gbadebo said the royal fathers had agreed to sink all their differences and work together in peace and harmony.

“The meeting was frank, open and candid with all the issues fully placed on the table for discussion, including the issues causing bad feelings, mistrust and disunity among the obas.

“After achieving what the committee regarded as full reconciliation on all issues that have been causing rancour and disaffection among the obas, the obas thereby agreed to sink all their differences and henceforth work together in harmony.

“We thank Amosun for his foresight and effort.”