The Otileta Ruling House of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, has nominated seven princes including an Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ogun State, Dr Adegbemi Adewale, as the candidates for the Olowu of Owu Abeokuta stool.

The ruling house was the next house to produce the next Olowu of Owu following the demise of the late Olowu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, who joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021.

The nomination was done by the ruling house to the Abeokuta North Local Government after the ruling house was notified by the council to produce the next Olowu of Owu.

The nomination of the candidates which was done on Wednesday was sequel to the screening of 12 princes that were nominated by five compounds that made the Otileta Ruling House.

Apart from Adewale, a PhD holder from Ile Aderinoye, the other six candidates are Princes Adelani Oladimeji from Ile Omo’le Efon, Matemilola Adelola from Ile Soke and Olatidoye Olaniyi from Soke.

Others are Princes Adeyanju Bakinson from Ile Otopo, Simeon Soyele from Ile Lumosa and Adesina Adelani from Ile Soke.

The screening exercise of the candidates was done by the delegates of the ruling house. It was gathered that scores were awarded based on performances of each of the candidates at the screening and interview sessions.

According to the results sheet obtained by our correspondent, Adewale, came first with 1,027 points, Oladimeji, scored 909 points, Adelola 886 points, while Olaniyi scored 863 points.

Other scores are Bakinson who scored 862 points; Soyele, 827 points and Adelani, 801 points.

Prior to the screening and interview by the ruling house, the Abeokuta North Local Government had in a Public Notice, entitled: ‘Filing of Vacant Stool of Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta,’ and signed by the Secretary to the Local Government, Odusiji Kabiru Ayinla, directed the Otileta Ruling House to convene a meeting within 14 days from the date of the notice.

The Public Notice required that the Otileta Ruling House should convene the meeting between March 2, 2022, and March 15, 2022.

The Public Notice was pasted in strategic and conspicuous places in compounds that made Otileta Ruling House.

The Notice reads, “The appointment process of filing the vacant stool has commenced in line with the directive of the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, in its Letter Reference Number CHM1/4T2/241 dated 21 February 2022 and the Provisions of Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021, and it is the turn of Otileta Ruling House to produce candidate or candidates to fill the vacant stool.

“Furthermore the Otileta Ruling House is hereby required in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2021 to convey a meeting of the ruling house within 14 days from the date of this notice i.e between 2nd March and 15th March, 2022.

“For the purpose of nominating candidate or candidates, the candidate (s) nominated will be presented to the kingmakers for the election of a suitable candidate as Olowu of Owu-Elect.” (The PUNCH)

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