Olowu Kuta, Owu Oyo, Owu Kwara, Others Join Owu Descendants For National Convention In Ogun
ABEOKUTA – Notable sons and daughters of Owu kingdom both home and diaspora including their traditional rulers, among others converged on Ijebu Igbo, headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State for two days to mark the 32nd anniversary of Owu National Convention.
The gathering attracted several traditional rulers from Owu communities in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Igbo, Ibadan, Orile-Owu, other communities in Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Kwara states.
The host traditional ruler was Oba (Engr) Michael Olusegun Adesina of Owu-Ijebu, Ogun State, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola of Owu-Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oba (Dr.), Adekunle Oyelude Makama of Owu Kuta, Osun State, Oba(Dr), Olateju Adewoye of Owu-Isin, Kwara State, Oba Ajolola Akinfalabi of Orile-Owu, Osun State, Towulade of Akinale, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye among others.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was represented by wife, Bola, who joined other prominent sons and daughters of Owu-kingdom including the Oganla of Owu-Abeokuta and National Secretary of ROUP, Hon. Johson Olu- Fatoki, and Elder Wole Oyelese among others.
During the thanksgiving service at the
Saint John’s Anglican Church, Oke Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, the Vicar/Archdeacon, Venerable Lawrence Otegbola, urged Owu people to live in harmony with their neighbours.
In particular, he urged Owu people to see their diversity as major advantage capable to transforming the economy of the people and ensuring peaceful co-existence with others.
Otegbola also wants eminent sons and daughters of Owu-Kingdom to champion the crusade for unity among Owu-people
The vicar, who read from Psalm 133 of the Holy Bible, said those in position of authorities must use such key positions to support others and lift them up.
This is to reduce the alarming rate of poverty as well as insecurity in the country.
“We should use our key positions to support people around us for the progress of the society, we should strive to make others to grow and reduce level of poverty in the land.
“Your greatest achievements in life is raising people to become greater. Don’t allow anyone to discourage you from making people great”, the clergy man admonished.
The Anglican Church priest also expressed concern over what he described as gradual extinction of the Yoruba language.
Similarly, Akinbade in his speech at the grand-finale of the convention on Saturday, described the situation as unfortunate saying the Yoruba language is being replaced with foreign languages
“It’s equally a sad commentary that while our language is being replaced with foreign languages, especially the English language, our culture and traditions have been submerged by civilization.
“Most parents today do not know their family Oriki (panegyrics), let alone their children who have completely gone foreign. This must definitely change through a systemic rebirth if we don’t want to lose it all in the nearest future”, he warned.
To appreciate the beauty of rich tradition and cultural values of Yoruba, they canvassed the need for parents to begin to encourage the speaking of the language in their various homes among their children.
According to them, speaking and understanding the language would preserve it and save it from going into extinction.
Specifically, Otegbola said cultural celebration like Owu National Convention, should always be used to project the rich moral values of Yorubas.
The special host, Sen. Lekan Mustapha who also spoke said “all hands must be on deck to foster unity not only within Owu people but among our neighbours in the spirit of the theme of this year’s convention “The Year of Consolidation”
“The need to consolidate the legacies of our forefathers is now. Progress and development of Owu nation and by extension Nigeria as a whole should be the concern of all of us”, he stated.
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