Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has tasked Osun Government lead By Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on community development.
Obasanjo while speaking at the 29th Owu National Convention held at the Palace of Owu Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State on Saturday.
He added that Owu indigene were not lazy people. According to him, "any Owu indigene involved in the act of stealing should be investigated, such a person may not be true son or daughter of the Owu People."
The former President called for more unity in Owu land, while advising the Owu people to do more in helping one another.
Explaining the rationale behind the convention, Obasanjo, who is also an Owu Indigene, said it was for all indigenes of Owu to know one another and develop their land.
According to him, “Owu People do not steal. If you steal any Owu indigene stealing, ask the mother where she brought him from. I want us (Owu indigenes) to be more United. We are doing empowerment and giving out scholarship.”
He congratulated the new president of Royal Union of Owu People, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and tasked him to unite indigenes and ensure growth of the people of Owu.
Also the Olowu of Kuta Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama has said that the reduction of traditional rulers’ powers is worsening security issues in the country.
According to the Oba, if the traditional institution is given its rightful place by being powerful and strong, security challenges in Nigeria would be a thing of the past.
The monarch enjoined Nigerians and political office holders to restore traditional institution’s powers, noting that it was worrisome that monarchs have limitations in their roles.
He said it was absurd that constitutionally, monarchs have to take permission from Local Government Secretary before leaving the town, says it reduces the powers of monarchs in Yoruba land.
According to him, “Obas in Yoruba Land should not only be influential, they should be powerful too.”
He urged the generation of youths to take back the power from politicians adding that “Our sons and daughters in political offices should have a rethink and do the needful. The colonialists met Nigeria well organised.
“They (colonial Masters) have to reduce monarchial powers to be able to penetrate well. If monarchs are given constitutional roles, insecurities will be tamed.
“That 5 percent Local Government allocation is given to Obas is grossly inadequate. Most traditional rulers are not finding it easy,” the frontline traditional ruler noted.
Meanwhile, the Royal Union of Owu People (RUOP) has elected Alhaji Fatai Akinbade President of the Union.
At the inauguration of the 7th RUOP National Executive Committee, Akinbade promised to ensure that Owu People develop rapidly.
He appealed to Owu sons and daughters who are in various Yoruba sociocultural groups to always strive to make the difference but giving their best so as to make the nation great.
The guest lecturer at the convention, the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Prof Joshua O. Ogunwole said diversities in Nigerian language and culture should advantageous to the country.
Delivering his lecture entitled: “Harmony in Owu Polity, a Recipe For National Unity,” Ogunwole said “language, territorial and ethnic diversities are no excuses for a paralysed economy, epileptic security and a weakened identity of the Nigerian peoples.
“In the reality of the indispensability of interactions and contact in the global village, Nigeria could adopt relevant traits and values from apparently United cultures. However, she must incorporate these external influences to fit into the indigenous administrative patterns and models provided by the Owu nation.”
