A gathering cloud of unrest appears to be looming over Owo Local Government Area, precipitated by the reckless desperation of the suspended Chairman, Mr. Omolayo whose recent conduct is both unsettling and injurious to the fragile peace the ancient kingdom currently enjoys. Credible intelligence indicates that he has embarked on the sponsorship of a protest contrived to challenge the lawful position of the elected Owo Legislative Council on his suspension, a decision reached with the overwhelming endorsement of the youth constituency, the Olowo-in-Council and the Council of Traditional Rulers in Owo Local Government.
It is even more disquieting that this orchestration is said to be buoyed by the recruitment of external elements allegedly mobilised to foment chaos within the town. Such a sinister scheme is not only provocative, it is an egregious affront to the collective will of the people of Owo and a naked attempt to plunge the town into avoidable conflagration. History stands as a stern witness that no individual or institution has ever made war against Owo and endured unscathed. Those who ignore the lessons of the past do so at their own peril.
In the architecture of civic expression, protests, particularly those conceived in malice have rarely produced constructive outcomes. They often serve as catalysts for disorder, especially when engineered to advance parochial interests at the expense of public safety. It is therefore utterly confounding that the Nigeria Police Force in Owo is reported to have authorised such a volatile procession without a due appreciation of the palpable tension already saturating the atmosphere. This negligence, if true, raises profound questions about operational judgment and situational awareness.
The Ondo State Government must, as a matter of urgency, rein in Mr. Omolayo and his collaborators, lest their machinations metastasise into a full-blown crisis whose repercussions may be far-reaching. Commissioner Takuro, whose political indulgence is said to be emboldening this brazen misadventure, must desist forthwith from giving sanctuary directly or vicariously to acts capable of rupturing the peace of Owo. One must ask: would he countenance such combustible political manoeuvres within his own community?
Any attempt whether by an individual or a consortium of unpatriotic interests to undermine the throne of the Olowo or disparage decisions reached by the people and their traditional institutions is not merely an assault on governance; it is a desecration of the cultural and spiritual nucleus of the kingdom. Such an affront invariably invites the wrath of the gods of Owo land and history maintains no record of anyone who ventured down that ruinous path and returned unblemished.
This, therefore, is a solemn admonition: to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The Ondo State Government must deploy its instruments of authority to avert what could become a preventable upheaval. The state must act decisively and immediately to protect the sanctity of Owo, its revered throne, its institutions and its peace-loving people.
Owo has breathed peace long enough; it must not be suffocated by the reckless ambitions of a desperate few. It is time for lawful authority to speak in clear, unmistakable terms. The world is watching and history will judge.
E-Signed:
Olarenwaju Adeleke Joseph
President, Concerned Citizens of Owo for Good Governance and Cultural Integrity
