The Olowo-in-Council has issued a strong-worded statement condemning what it described as a “sacrilegious act” and “public insult” against His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, by the Chairman of Owo Local Government Council, Mr. Tope Omolayo.
Addressing journalists at the Olowo’s Palace on Friday, members of the Council expressed “total outrage” over the incident, describing Omolayo’s conduct as a desecration of Owo’s sacred heritage and an affront to the collective dignity of the Owo people.
In a resolution delivered after an emergency meeting, the Council declared Mr. Omolayo persona non grata within Owo Kingdom and called on the Ondo State Government to take immediate administrative action “in the interest of peace and mutual respect.” “The individual in question, by his reckless utterances and disrespectful conduct, has declared himself a persona non grata within the territory of Owo Kingdom,” the Council declared.
“His continued presence as Chairman of the Owo Local Government Area Council is no longer acceptable to the people and traditional leadership of Owo.”
The statement, signed on behalf of the Council, further described the act as a deliberate provocation and “an assault on the soul of the Owo people.”
While condemning the alleged desecration, the Council appealed for calm, urging all sons and daughters of Owo at home and abroad to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
“Our strength lies in our unity, discipline, and the respect we accord our revered institution. The dignity of our throne shall be preserved not through chaos, but through moral clarity and firmness of purpose,” the Council noted.
The Council also reminded public officeholders and citizens alike of the sacred status of traditional rulers in Yoruba culture, warning that any attempt to ridicule or undermine them was tantamount to insulting the entire traditional system.
“The Olowo of Owo Kingdom, like other revered monarchs across Yorubaland, represents the spiritual and historical essence of our people. To insult the Olowo is to insult the Yoruba traditional system,” the statement added.
The Council disclosed that all chairmen of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Owo Kingdom had distanced themselves from Omolayo’s conduct, describing it as “unfortunate, regrettable, and unsupported.”
Reaffirming its loyalty to the monarch, the Council vowed to defend the sanctity of the Owo throne against any form of desecration.
“Let it be known that Owo Kingdom will never tolerate insolence against its throne, a throne that has stood for centuries as a beacon of civilisation, wisdom, and dignity,” the statement concluded.
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