Ondo Monarchs lambast suspended council chairman over attack on Olowo, Oba Ogunoye

— Decry disrespect of traditional stool by politicians

By Dayo Johnson Akure

Monarchs in Owo council area of Ondo state, have lambasted the suspended council chairman Hon Tope Omolayo, for allegedly making disparaging remarks against the states chairman, council of traditional ruler, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye.

Recall that the suspended chairman, had apologized to Oba Ogunoye, over a viral audio recording in which he uttered some unruly statements against the monarch following his suspension by the councils councillors

Hon Omolayo, in a letter addressed to the monarch said ” I take full responsibility for my words and acknowledge the grave disrespect they conveyed towards your highly revered stool and personality.

“I am profoundly sorry for any hurt, embarrassment, or disappointment my utterances may have caused you, our royal household, and the good people of Owo Kingdom.”

“My actions in that moment were thoughtless, and do not reflect the values of our culture, the respect I hold for the traditional institution, nor the esteem with which I regard your person as the custodian of our cherished heritage.

But the monarchs under the umbrella of the Owo Local Government Council of Obas, described Omolayo’s remarks as “unpleasant, inappropriate, and unbecoming of a person holding public office.

The monarch in a statement issued and signed by their Secretary, who is the Oloba of Uso, Oba Engr. Ademola Adebiyi Oyinbade, said that the outburst was not just an affront to the Olowo but an open insult to the entire traditional institution in Owo land.

Oba Oyinbade, in the statement which was forwarded to the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, explained that they initially chose to be silent on the issue in order to allow peace to reign and to give Omolayo time to retrace his steps.

According to him their restraint was to avoid being perceived as taking sides in local political matters, and to allow the suspended chairman an opportunity to show genuine remorse and apologise publicly.

The traditional ruler, however, expressed their disappointment that they had yet to see Omolayo take any practical step toward apologising to the Olowo, and other Obas in the local government, stressing that an attack on the Olowo is an attack on all traditional rulers in Owo land.

They said ” We have maintained a studied silence on the issue of the voice message because of our position as Traditional rulers, who must not hastily respond to issues as sensitive as that but defend our traditional cultural institutions in order to promote peace and tranquillity.

“Also, not to be accused of getting involved or taking sides in the political happenings in Owo Local Government Area, and more importantly to give Mr. Tope Omolayo the benefit of showing genuine remorse and mobilising Owo religious, community and political elders and leaders to join him to tender an unreserved, heartfelt apology to His Imperial Majesty and all the Obas in the Local Government Area for his disgusting and loathsome behaviour unbecoming of a Chairman of a Local Government.

“Unfortunately, we have not seen him taking practical steps towards apologising to Kabiyesi Olowo and the Obas in the Local Government Area, because an attack on Kabiyesi Olowo is an attack on all the Obas.

“His press conference in Akure cannot suffice for a sincere apology to Kabiyesi Olowo, other Obas and the people of Owo considering his blasphemous conduct.”

They called on political parties and leaders to always sponsor only mature, disciplined, and experienced individuals into public office to prevent future embarrassment to the traditional institution.

The monarchs also issued a strong warning to politicians and government officials to exercise caution in their dealings with monarchs, noting that traditional rulers deserve utmost respect as custodians of culture, values, and community stability.

“Consequently, we hereby state that we collectively denounce and reject the unfortunate voice message made by Mr. Tope Omolayo and take it as the outburst of an uncouth person who is not worthy of a public office, not even the least office.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we the Obas in Owo Local Government Area are resolutely behind Kabiyesi Olowo in this period of unreasonable and childish attack on His Imperial Majesty’s esteemed personality. This is one too many

They therefore advised “political parties and their leaders to always ensure that mature, experienced and disciplined people are sponsored to public offices in order to forestall and prevent this kind of public embarrassment.

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