The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, has told Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, that Owu people are not under the control of the Alake.

The had been recently reported as objecting to the existence of two paramount rulers in the ancient city of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

A close aide of the Alake, Baapitan of Egbaland, Chief Adebola Lawal, was quoted as saying: “Owu is not different from Egba. If the people of Owu feel they are not Egba, why not pack their loads and leave this place? Why is Owu different from Egba? Are they not on Egba land?”

In his reaction, the Olowu of Owu through a statement issued and signed today by Oganla of Owu Kingdom, Alhaji Saheed Akinmade, stated that Owu People are an independent ethnic group different from the Egbas; and as a result, they are not under the control of the Alake or any other Egba Oba.

His words: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication captioned “Stop lobbying Government, Alake cautions Olowu”, with the rider, “Says we can’t have two paramount rulers in Egbaland”.

“Since neither the publication nor its contents have been denied or refuted by Alake of Egbaland, our conclusion is that the publication was a true reproduction of Chief Lawal’s statement.

“Since the statement contains erroneous and misguided views that must be corrected immediately, we have decided to issue this counter statement.”

Akinmade noted that the Owu people also have the right to continue with the appeal to the State Government, to have Owu Traditional Council and Olowu as the Paramount Ruler because it is legitimate right.

“There are two Paramount ruler in Ogun East Senatorial District, the Awujale for Ijebu and the Akarigbo for Remo.

“Meanwhile, Ogun central is larger than Ogun East and therefore deserves another paramount ruler, more so, the Olowu domain also extends to some parts of Ogun west,” he added.