The coronation ceremonies of the Olowu-elect of Owu Abeokuta, Dr. Saka Adelola Matemilola commences in the Ogun State capital today and will run till Sunday, 30th October. Oba Matemilola will assume the title of Otileta VII, being from the royal family with that name.
He will be coronated today and become the seventh traditional ruler from the Otileta ruling house since the first Olowu of Owu, Oba Pawu, who reigned from 1855 to 1867. Coincidentally, Oba Pawu was also of the Otileta ruling house.
Oba Matemilola, who has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, had an illustrious service in the petroleum engineering sector and was Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigeria Council. The 58-year-old is a Visiting Associate Professor at the African University of Science and Technology.
Oba Matemilola is succeeding Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, who joined his ancestors last December.
According to the week-long schedule, the official presentation of staff of office by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to Oba Matemilola will hold on Saturday. The ceremony will be chaired by former President Goodluck Jonathan with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the Royal Father of the Day.
Also expected at the events are the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III and the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The Chairman of the Coronation Committee, Major General Ekundayo Opaleye (rtd.) said that the twin programme includes celebration of this year’s Odun Omo Olowu (Owu Day).
He said: “On Tuesday and Wednesday, villages, settlements, groups and associations will pay homage to the new Olowu at his palace.
“Youth seminar and colloquium will be held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) on Thursday, as well as the launch of Olowu Foundation among other events”.
According to the former military governor of old Ondo State, there will be a special banquet on Friday, which will be chaired by Dangote, while the royal father of the day is Olu of Warri.
The day’s activities will also include the tour of historical places in Abeokuta, storytelling and reminiscences by elderly people, games and sports. A banquet will also hold later in day at the OOPL.
The two major events will hold at the Oba Odeleye Park, Ori Omi, Owu Totoro, Abeokuta.
Opaleye said the programme will climax on Sunday, 30th October with traditional, Muslim and Christian thanksgiving services which will hold at Oba Odeleye Park.
On the same day, a world press conference by the new Olowu and an appreciation evening with Oba Matemilola and officials will round off the activities at the Olowu’s palace.
In a letter earlier shared with the Otileta ruling house, Oba Matemilola acknowledged with thanks their individual and collective congratulatory messages, as well as prayers bestowed on him
He assured that he would dedicate himself to the service of humanity and put everything that God has endowed with him to the service of Owu kingdom, and humanity at large, stressing that his generation owes it a duty to his forefathers to sustain the proud legacy.
The letter reads: “All thanks and praises to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything that is within them. I acknowledge with thanks, your individual and collective congratulatory messages. I particularly thank you for your prayers.
“Until recently, I have made modest efforts to dedicate myself to the service of humanity. With my selection as the Olowu of Owu, my pledge is to put everything that God has endowed me with, to the service of Owu people and to humanity at large.
“Several generations of our forebearers worked hard and made lots of sacrifices to build the legacy of Owu kingdom, which we all proudly inherited. Therefore, our generation owes a duty to our forefathers, ourselves and the future generations of Owu sons and daughters, to play our part to not only sustain our proud legacy, but to also build upon it.
“My belief is that each one of us who contested for the role of Olowu of Owu, did so with the primary intention of serving our people. What is at stake is the future of Owu kingdom, and not Saka Matemilola as the Olowu. A lot have been achieved in the recent past. But there is still a lot of work ahead of us. If we are to make a difference in our generation, we need all hands on the deck. And the first step is to forge a united front”.
“Therefore, I call on every one of us to put Owu first, come together as one united people, and to re-dedicate ourselves to the progress and development of our common heritage. I look forward to working with you all, as well as all well-meaning sons and daughters of Owu, towards taking Owu to its pride of place. Please accept the assurances of my best regards”.
Additional report by Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji in Abeokuta
