Obasanjo, Shonekan, Amosun Reconcile Feuding Egba Obas

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Interim Head of State, Ernest Shonekan, joined the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Saturday to resolve the feud among the four traditional rulers in Egba Kingdom.

Also in attendance were the traditional rulers Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo; the Osile of Oke-Ona, Adedapo Tejuoso; the Agura of Gbagura, Halidu Laloko; and the Olowu of Owu, Adesanya Dosunmu.

A maiden meeting was held on November 3 at the Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, although no public statements were made then.

The three-men reconciliatory committee set up by the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, include Mr. Obasanjo, Mr. Shonekan, and Olatunde Abudu, while the recorder for the meetings is also an Egba High Chief, Femi Majekodunmi.

A communiqué signed by all parties was read by Mr. Gbadebo, who stated that the governor expressed his dissatisfaction with the existing relationship among the prominent monarchs in Egbaland and stated his desire to ensure that peace and harmony prevailed among them.

Mr. Gbadebo said the governor charged Messrs. Obasanjo, Shonekan and Abudu to form a committee with the former president as chairman. The committee is to submit its report on or beforeDecember 31 on the resolution of the differences. He added that the meetings were frank, open and candid with all controversial issues discussed.

The communiqué stated that the committee appealed to the monarchs to place the interest of all Egbas above all personal or individual interests in accordance with the desire of the governor.

"After achieving what the committee regarded as full reconciliation on all issues that have been causing rancor and dissatisfaction among the Obas, the Obas thereby agreed to sink all their differences and henceforth work together in harmony," the communiqué stated.

Mr. Obasanjo in his remark said, "Don’t underplay the reconciliation; I believe all of us in Egbaland and Ogun State cannot thank Governor Amosun enough. It is divine hand of God, when Amosun called us together in November 3, we never hoped that we shall achieve.

"Now, there is no doubt in my mind that our Kabiyesis are genuine. Wherever human beings are, there are likely to be friction. When you see machine working, there is friction, and what needs to be done is to oil it.

"I read the kabiyesis lips and body language and I can tell you, they are genuine in resolving the friction," Mr. Obasanjo added.

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