DIG Oyebade, Dr. Oluseun Obasanjo, Yeye Martins Honoured as Owu Kingdom Celebrates Prominent Kinfolks

Ronke Kehinde/

If there is any event that evokes a huge response from Owu people worldwide, it is the grand finale of the annual Odun Omo Olowu during which prominent sons and daughters of Owu Kingdom are honoured.

Among those who have been so honoured is former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is revered as the Prime Minister and Balogun (Warlord) of Owu Kingdom, and former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

This year’s edition was marked with much fanfare and magnificent cultural display at the Oba Adisa Odeleye Square, in Abeokuta, on October 2.

Those who were celebrated at the event included the retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Leye Oyebade mni, who is Chairman/CEO, Rontol Ventures Limited, a conglomerate with interests across agriculture, education, manufacturing, and security services; Dr. Oluseun Obasanjo, accomplished industrialist son of the former Nigerian President, and Yeye Nanafatima Oluwatumininu Martins, who was installed as the Yeye Oge of Owu Kingdom.

A cocktail of synchronized melodies from pulsating talking drums and whitish, huge, age-old booming traditional bass drums welcomed dignitaries into the arena.

Obasanjo, who could not resist the reverberating rhythmic renditions, danced majestically on his arrival. He later invited two royal fathers, the Alake of Egbaland – Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and Agura of Gbagura – Oba Saburee Babajide Isola Bakre to show their skills on the dance floor.

Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Sen. Amosun, his predecessor who hails from Owu were there to felicitate with the people. They pledged to continue to support development initiatives in the Owu Kingdom.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo dancing on arrival at the Owu Festival

In his goodwill message, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu described the festival as “Owu’s public celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God – Olodumare by our people everywhere around the globe”.

Addressing the congregation, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and the Jagunmolu of Owu, Chief Rotimi Olasode Martins said, “The theme this year is Posterity. All future generations of People. There is no other time for us to start talking about our future generations, bridging gaps, and teaching our young ones about the cultures, traditions, and all that the Owu Kingdom stands for…”

While presenting the ‘Role of Honour’ award to Oyebade, Obasanjo commended and congratulated him for his selfless services to the nation, safe arrival at retirement, and his contributions to the growth and development of Owu Kingdom. He, however, urged him to continue to do more for the people.

Oyebade thanked God, the governors, and Chief Obasanjo, who he described as ‘Under 20’ to the amusement of everyone. He also thanked the congregation for the honour bestowed on him. He pledged that he would continue to serve the people and the Nation.

Oba Dosunmu gave some insights into the history of the Owu Festival.

His words: “Odun Omo Olowu is an age-long Owu Festival established by the very first Olowu known as Ajibosin. He was the son of Obatala – a versatile Ifa priest who was also a renowned farmer of the cotton crop. When he was not farming, he toured towns and cities visiting palaces divining and counselling great kings including the legendary Odudua whose first daughter, Iyunade, he also married.

“Iyunade Odudua was the mother of Ajibosin. Ajibosin received his crown (Aare) directly from the “head” of his grandfather, Odudua, and took it to his own father’s town where he was popularly known as “Omo Olowu” – the son of the cotton grower or farmer – and later assumed the title of Olowu. He was a wise king who recognised the grace God (Olodumare) had showered on him as a descendant of two great men – Odudua and Obatala, like his father, Olowu Ajibosin practised the arts and vocation of his own father: farming.

“Upon his first anniversary as king, he rallied his people and children around himself, sacrificing the best product of his farm … a tuber of yam, which he ceremoniously split into six parts offering same to Olodumare in gratitude for His bountiful grace and plentiful provisions of a good harvest. He forbade his family from eating yam which is harvested late because it has ceased from being a tuber and become a root. His household ate new yam in the first three months of the new harvest but thereafter as the rains descend, they planted yam for the coming year. He achieved great things through this annual festival.

“Olowu never went to war during the rainy season because he kept himself and people busy on their farms. He achieved peace and harmony among his people, for he established the festival as a period of gathering them together as a family. He got every family together for the honouring of their elders and heads of their communities.

“The Odun Omo Olowu has been celebrated for centuries as a private festival, and it followed certain pattern: The Imogbos announce to the Olowu the ripeness of the yam for harvesting. The Olowu is the first to taste the yam, but the ceremony of eating must be done at Thanksgiving in the presence of Obatala at his shrine. Five days later the Akogun, Olowu’s war chief and military adviser then ate the new yam. Following these ceremonial events, the whole people of Owu can now eat the new yam for three months only or until they have consumed the first harvest.

“Things have naturally changed over the years; all traditions are dynamic, and times and happenings do force people to change. For example, new techniques in agriculture have made it possible to harvest yams twice a year. Climate change has made many old things to change for better or for worse. People all over the world are changing their lifestyle but the purposes of doing certain things may not change. For us in Owu, the original purpose of celebrating the Omo Olowu Festival has not changed… that purpose is to give thanks to Olodumare for supplying all our needs. Nobody in the world is making their need of thanking God a secret. We Owus are not an exception.”

Other eminent personalities at the event are Pastor Adenuga, who represented Pastor J.F. Odesola, the African-Continental Overseer of RCCG; Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Lai Amoje; Senior Advocate of Nigeria – Mr Sola Ojutalayo; retired DIG Abdulmajid Ali, AIG Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, retired AIG Shola Subair, CP Dave Akinremi rtd, CP Lanre Bankole, Senator Tolu Odebiyi, Chief Olaniyi Adegbenro (Osi Owu Kingdom), Chief Johnson Olu Fatoki, the Oganla of Owu Kingdom; Engr. M.T. Adebowale, the CEO, First August Engineering Construction Company; Mr Kola Adeniji Lucas – MD/CEO Niji Farms/Foods, Ilero in Iseyin; Dr. Debo Akande, Director IITA and Special Adviser to Oyo State governor on Agri-business; Pastor and Deaconess Israel Olajumoke of the Winners Chapel; Chief Moruf Egbeyemi (Asipa Owu Kingdom), Pastor Yinka Oyebade, Mrs Adunni Olaleye, the Head of Oyebade family and Proprietress, New Era School, ita-Elega, Abeokuta; RRS Commander, CSP Yinka Egbeyemi; and Media Executive, Abiodun Sowunmi.