By Gbenga Olarinoye

THE journey so far after three years as monarch
Three years down the line as the Olowu Kuta, all glory to God Almighty. I have been having it easy. With the help of God, my friends and teeming supporters, I have been having a smooth sail.

His ascension to the throne
I grew up in the North, Maiduguri and  Zaria. We have four Ruling Houses and where I come from is the most senior. When I was younger, like other Princes, I was aspiring that one day, I would become a king but I never knew it would come this early. Destiny thrust this post on me when I was hoping my boss, General Babangida would get me Federal appointment. But God gave me life time appointment instead. That made him, Babangida to write when I was made king. When the late monarch passed on, our ruling house was next to fill the stool and our leaders called for nominations.80% nominated me and 20% wanted another person. Those that were not even eligible from other ruling houses also contested. 

Card carrying member

Because of my closeness to Gen. Babangida, I was branded a PDP man. They said I would kill Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, as it was then known,  if I clinched the crown. But I told them I was not a card carrying member of PDP. 
Aregbesola refused to be swayed and that marked the beginning of our relationship. Our people are today happy and we have been enjoying their support  since I became king. My boss (Babangida) support was very crucial to my ascending the throne.

How are you coping in a settlement like this?
I look at my kingdom as a small London. What I would have missed from having to live among people is being shore up by influx of people here. Friends like you and my subjects are always around me. The way I relate is also helping me always have people around me. I delegate responsibilities and not authority. I go and come back when it is time to return home. But I must admit the two are not the same life here in my little London and outside this place.

Any relationship between his Kuta and Kuta in Kogi state?
No, or may be I have stumbled on the history. People in Kuta in Kogi must be Nupe by tribe. But our own Kuta is an Owu settlement. We have been here since 1425.

Things that led to disintegration of Owu kingdom?
We have 37 Owu communities in Nigeria and about 6 in diaspora. Orile Owu or you call it Owu Ipole is the ancestral home of all Owus. It is the headquarters. Coincidentally, my progenitor migrated from Orile Owu around 1425 and settled here. Some of his brothers joined him here too. But the disintegration occurred in 1420. Alaafin, Ife and Ijebe joined hands to fight Olowu. Check history, Owu was the first kingdom in Yorubaland. Check Johnson and Johnson and other archival documents. But my forefathers lost that empire to Alaafin because of impatience, high handedness.

As you are aware, Owu was the first empire formed by Oduduwa. “Owu la koda”. After the disintegration of Owu, some people also joined us in Kuta here and they moved to Erunmu.

That is were the likes of Oyelese hail from. He is an Owu man. Then one of the late Olubadan, Olugbode was also an Owu Kuta man. Some moved to Ibadan in Olugbode compound, some moved to Ijebu, some to Abeokuta, some to Epe. That was how they scattered. But during the life time of late Balogun of Owu, Akin Olugbade, who suggested that all Owus should come together. That was over 20 years ago and we formed Royal Union of Owu People. So since then, we gather annually to deliberate. Last year , I hosted them, this year I am hosting them also for two days. During the meeting, we usually deliberate on issues that concern us as a group of people. We are the Jews of the Yoruba race. We have Owu Obaloyin in Kwara so also Owu Isin. Aregbesola ( Osun state governor) was even telling me recently that he and a professor have discovered some Owus in the East. We are making efforts to meet these people.

As the chairman of Supreme Council of Owu Obas?
I don’t have a large community but I am senior in the hierarchy of Owu Obas.

What are your roles?
My roles include but not limited to uniting and to harness and formulate policies and identify directions we should go as a group of people. To God be the glory, I have been playing my roles very well. First week of July, all Owu Obas will be meeting here and that is part of effort to forge common course and unite our people.

What eventually disintegrated Owu kingdom?
From the information I got from the British archives, before the disintegration, Olowu was only next to Ooni. So he was so powerful. At that time, he sent some of his men to collect royalty from Alaafin, but the then ruler in Oyo could not afford his demands, so Olowu told his men to march Alaafin down to Owu. 

Supernatural powers

With supernatural powers he had, Sango, the brother to the then Alaafin came and produced all the demands of Olowu. Sango came and sprayed guinea corn and produced all what Olowu had demanded. Because of the shame the then Alaafin declined returning to his stool and Sango became new Alaafin. Olowu later demanded for tribute from Alaafin Sango. And because he resisted being treated like his brother and issues started cropping up. Ife saw that opportunity and also the Ijebus. They waged war against Owu and defeated her.