Mobolaji Adedayo
With moves commencing on several fronts towards the appointment of the new Awujale of Ijebuland after the demise of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, some prominent Ijebu indigenes have also commenced moves to position themselves for the coveted crown.
Among the jostlers so far is Otunba Abiodun Onanuga, who purports to be making a strong claim to the revered stool, saying in his letter of content released on October 18 that he has keenly followed the steps taken by the Government of Ogun State on the matter.
Nothing can be short of an overarching and inordinate ambition, as well as a propensity to exploit the delay in the government announcing the new monarch.
In his letter of intent, Otunba Onanuga stressed that he consulted widely before making his declaration public, saying he was also aware of the high sense of responsibility and the huge burden that accompanies the Awujale stool.
The foregoing should not come as a surprise to an ambitious person. After all, this is the time that saccharine speeches would be made to woo the gullible public and heat up the polity. But his spurious claim to being Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House leaves so much to be desired. It is one thing to be ambitious, even if inordinately. But it is a totally different thing to engage in the use of falsehood to exhibit ambition. This is because there is no proof that Otunba Onanuga is from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, let alone being the Olori Ebi. His claim of being paternally the grandson of Alhaji Prince Mustafa Onanuga of the Anikilaya Ruling House and his maternal grandfather, Alfa Kadiri, being a direct descendant of the Bubiade Royal Family of Itamare, Ita Ajana, and the Obelu Lukan Royal Family of Esure, is also false through and through. Likewise, he is a great-grandson of Prince Talabi Awoye, son of the 40th Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, who is also of the Olufesogbade Ruling House. All these are signs of desperation by someone who believes anything can be achieved through influence peddling.
He also said in his letter that his life has been devoted to service and unwavering commitment to excellence, progress and preservation of the Ijebu people, saying these qualities have been reflected in his professional career and public life. However, his claim that a building and civil engineering construction company he established, namely NUGACON Ltd, has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria in general, and the Ijebuland in Ogun State in particular, cannot be ascertained. Likewise, his award as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Building and the City People’s Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award also remain to be proven.
He may have served on committees that include the Ijebu Development Board on Poverty Reduction and as Chairman of the Awujale Palace Extension Building Technical Committee, just as he may have contributed to the construction of office accommodation for the proposed new Passport Office sponsored by the council of Otunbas in Itoro, Ijebu Ode. But his claim of being a member of the Ijebu State Creation Committee also smacks of influence peddling for positioning.
Otunba Onanuga said he has embarked on numerous projects through his leadership of the Egbe Bobakeye Akile Ijebu age group for over 30 years. But he listed only the provision of free medical services, renovation of the orthopaedic and trauma ward at Ijebu Ode General Hospital, and the construction of the Oba S.K. Adetona royal arch as his achievements.
He also mentioned a close and enduring relationship with the immediate past Awujale, saying it culminated in his chieftaincy titles of Otunba Taiyese of Esure and Otunba Anikilaya of Ijebuland, saying the titles are a direct recognition of his contributions and dedication to the various communities in Ijebuland. Nothing can be short of name-dropping by an expert in the business.
In what appeared to be a subtle threat to the Government of Ogun State under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, he said the choice before the people of Ijebuland on a new Awujale goes far beyond the politics of lineage. Apparently, it came full circle to him that he had made false claims all along and suddenly sought to deploy blackmail in his pursuit of the coveted crown. No doubt, the government has well read his antics, and he would be put where he rightly belongs in the fullness of time with a clear message that the Awujale crown is not for all comers.
Adedayo, an indigene of Ijebu Ode, contributes this piece from Iyana Iba, Lagos State, Via adedayoo@gmail.com
