Obasanjo, Shonekan, Amosun reconcile Alake, Olowu, Osile, Agura

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and ex-Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; yesterday, met with the four traditional rulers in Egbaland following the lingering supremacy tussle among them.

The meeting, which lasted three hours, was held at Government House,Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta. Also in attendance at the parley were an industrialist, Chief Olatunde Abudu and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo. The  warring Obas are the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu; the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Halidu Olaloko and the Osile of Oke-Ona,Oba Adedapo Tejuoso.

Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting, Obasanjo, who is the chairman of the reconciliation committee, described the truce brokered by Amosun as genuine.

According to the former president, wherever human beings  co-exist,there is bound to be friction. “The most important thing is that the people must constantly work out solutions to such challenges through  sincere dialogue, communication and discussion,”he stated.

“Where you make dialogue the oil reducing friction in human relationships,then you have gotten the solution to disagreement.”

He disclosed that the reconciliation was like the ones he had  resolved  between the late  former governor of Ogun State , Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, and the  Awujale of Ijebuland,Oba

Sikiru Adetona; the people of  Ife and Modakeke in Osun State and others in foreign countries.

Obasanjo  therefore expressed optimism that the step would engender lasting  peace in Egbaland, saying the monarchs displayed sincerity  and determination at various meetings held before the peace was brokered.

“I was with the  Obas, and I read their  lips and observed their body language and I can assure you that they are sincere and genuine,” he said.