May 16, (THEWILL) – Crisis seems to be brewing over the process that would lead to the emergence of a new traditional ruler in Owu kingdom, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The former royal father, Oba  Adegboyega Dosunmu, a veteran television producer ascended to the throne in 2005, as the 13th Olowu of Owu transited to glory on December 12, 2021 after a brief illness. Not long after his demise, kingmakers began the process to choose the next king for the kingdom. It was gathered that one Prince Saka Matemilola was chosen for the stool. However, his emergence was greeted with criticism after two royal families rejected his candidacy. They went as far as writing a petition to the state governor, warning against the installation of Matemilola as the next king. He was opposed because he is not an indigene of the state hence not fit to become the traditional ruler of Oluwo of Owu.  Matemilola was one of the princes screened by the Owu kingmakers after candidates were nominated by the Otileta ruling houses, the next in line to produce a new king. It was gathered that the kingmakers spent seven-hours on the selection process.  At the end of the screening, the kingmaker forwarded their report to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun who will announce the new traditional ruler for Owu town. The two petitions written are from Tajudeen Adelani and Amina Adesina who are both from royal families in the town.  The petition was submitted to the state governor and the Ministries of Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.  They requested that the king makers should follow due process and accused the preferred candidate of not being a son of the soil. According to them, Matemilola is a native of Ibadan, in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State making ineligible to the throne. He had sworn an affidavit in 2000 at the High Court Registry in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. He was said to be from Ile Soke in Oyo State where he alluded to be an Ibadan man. It was revealed that crowning  him will be a desecration of the customs and tradition  in Owu kingdom.
