Ololade Adeyanju/
A new Olowo of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State has emerged.
He is Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye. He defeated 16 other contestants in an election held at the Olowo palace to clinch the exalted throne.
Ogunoye polled 15 out of the 16 votes cast to emerge the 32nd Olowo.
The new Olowo is the son of late Oba Joseph Adekola Ogunoye II who was the Olowo of Owo from 1968 to 1992.
The Olowo-elect was two years old when his father ascended the throne.
His choice followed the demise of Oba Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi in April aged 77.
The late Olowo reigned for 16 years, having been installed as the traditional ruler of the ancient town in 2003 by the late Governor Olusegun Agagu.
In his remarks after the exercise, the Oba-elect promised to ensure peace reigns in the town.
Until his election, the Oba-elect was a Director of Finance and Administration of the Government House and Protocol in the Ondo State Civil Service.
Addressing the gathering, the President of the Council of Senior Omolowos (kingmakers) Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo, who commended the selection process, urged the contestants to join hands with the Oba-elect in moving the town forward.
“I want to appeal to the Oba-elect to be magnanimous in victory and extend hands of fellowship to other contestants. All of you are princes of Owoland,” he stated.
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