The Ogunmakin royal family of the same eponymous community in Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun state has sent a SOS to former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; asking for his intervention in the crisis over who becomes the next traditional ruler of the ancient community.
Stating that they are Owu people, whose ancestors founded the agrarian community, the family led by Prince Adeyemi Ogunmakin and Prince Kazeem Ogunmakin, begged the elder statesman to come to their help quickly lest an alleged stranger from Ibadan snatches the throne of their forebears.
The family made the appeal while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital on Saturday.
The family affirmed that the progenitor of the community was their forefather, expressing the concern that despite the overriding evidence of the family being entitled to produce the next monarch after the demise of Oba James Sodiya, there were intense plans by some elements to sideline them.
The family added that a petition has equally been sent to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs over the issues
‘We are using this platform to appeal to our father and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun to come to our rescue Ogunmakin also has a root from Owu where Baba Obasanjo hails from, we beg to assist us to secure our rightful stool, against plot by some elements to impose a non-indigene as next traditional ruler of Ogunmakin,’ the family said
“To set the record straight and in contrary to Ayinde Busari’s press release of 23/5/2024, via MouthpieceNGR, we must now declare that our progenitor’s full name was Bello Ogunmakin, not Bisiriyu Ogunmakin.
“His first-ever child from his first wife, Ekitiba was in fact male, Busari Ogunwemimo, not Omonayajo. It was Busari Ogunwemimo Ogunmakin who begat Surakatu Olawunmi Ogunmakin (Baale Orile Ogunmakin, 2001-2014 duly installed with certificate by Kabiyesi Osile and was the only suitably qualified incumbent Baale Ogunmakin land, due to be elevated to Oba Ogunmakin in 2010 but was gifted to late Oba Sodiya.
‘’It is noteworthy to stress that Pa Ogunmakin was a warlord. His Dad and Grandad from Agbole Asipa Adekalu (Oke Ago-Owu). His Granma from Amororo Dynasty, Totoro. Upon distress calls from Ikerekus, he came through, engaged in fierce battle with the Ibadans for nine years.
“He fought fearlessly and selflessly, defeated the Ibadan, defending the borders, preventing them from invading Egba territory today called Ogunmakin land, where he then became the first ever settler.
“Whilst Pa Ogunmakin indeed had three wives, he begat male children and his wives were from neither Olounde nor Oniturupu villages as being bandied about by outsiders.”
