Race for Olowo stool in Ondo State begins

Barely a month after the demise of the frontline traditional ruler of Owo, Ondo State, Oba David Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, the race to the stool has commenced, with not less than six princes understood to have indicated interest. Two of the princes were said to have been picked by their respective royal families to contest […]

Barely a month after the demise of the frontline traditional ruler of Owo, Ondo State, Oba David Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, the race to the stool has commenced, with not less than six princes understood to have indicated interest.

Two of the princes were said to have been picked by their respective royal families to contest for the stool. The princes are Gbedegesin Ajibade Ogunoye, a deputy permanent secretary in the Ondo State civil service from the Ogunoye royal stool, and Olatunbosun Olayemi Ajike from the Ajike Ateneye royal family.

Our correspondent learnt the two men were screened by their respective families to determine their suitability for the position.

Eko Trust learnt that after the Ogunoye family head, Chief Saka Olutokun, conducted the selection process, the family’s deputy head, Chief Olugbadehan Ologede, pronounced Ajibade as the family’s choice on May 12, 2019.

Also last Friday, the Ajike family announced, at a news conference in Owo, the unanimous choice of Olayemi, a Dubai-based business man, as the family’s flag bearer to contest for the throne. The decision was said to have been taken after screening and several meetings by the royal family.

Owo has been on edge since Wednesday April 17, 2019 when Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi passed on.

It is expected that more candidates may join the race when the kingmakers and Omolowos lift the curtain for the selection process to begin.