Omolosho Fatai
Lai Onipede, one of the Omolufes, a foremost pillar of the founding ancestors of Igbajoland, has called on Owa-in-Council under the leadership of Obaala Iloro, Chief Ajibodu, and the Asiwaju of Igbajoland, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo,SAN, to resolve the feud between Omo-Owá Òkè and Omo-Owá Odò families.
Igbajo is a town in the southwest of Nigeria, in the Boluwaduro Local Government Area in Osun State.
The former scribe of Igbajo Development Association (IDA) who faulted the feud in a letter titled ‘AN APPEAL TO BRING PEACE TO OUR TOWN’ and obtained by TOS NEWS said that the crisis should not be used to put an end to the development that is ongoing in the community.
He also enjoined all aggrieved members of the two families to come together to produce an Owá that will unite the people of the town and continue the good works on ground.
“This year became worse as the two sides Omo-Owá Òkè and Omo-Owá Odò became so enmeshed in the bitterness against each other and brought the Alulùs to the “family feud” in between them.
“Like I said at the beginning of this appeal letter that the sad scenario is just like when an assemblage of wizards and witches in the town are performing in the day time at the market place, it portends danger and the elders amongst us should call a peace meeting before the enemies of the town put their mouths to escalate the family feud.
Onipede who explained that the feud started during Orókè festival last year, attributed the cause of the fight to the death of the past Owa.
“Last year, the Orókè festival that was supposed to be celebrated by all the Omo-Owas on behalf of the town in general rather got themselves divided.
“The general thought was that it came about as a result of the demise of the Owa.”
Onipede, while calling for peace narrated how Oroke festival had been conducted in past years.
“This Orókè, though has its worshipers and its devotees but it is the only festival that binds all Igbajo together irrespective of where we come from, our belief and our religion.
“In the past , it was the only festival that brought the Obadio or the Odolofin to meet eye to eye with the Owa ,where the Obadio would sit in the public in the palace and the Owa leaned on Obadio’s chin and pray for peace and tranquility for the town.
“It was the only festival where the Owa would sit down with Lówámòsî once in a year to play the traditional Ayò together and later prayed for continuing unity of the town.
“It is the only festival where everybody will eat the yearly big Àkàrà – Orókè irrespective of the religion you belong to as if one is eating the Ileya Ram or the numerous delicious meals served by the Christians during Christmas period.
“It is the only festival where the Gànganhún drums are beaten to celebrate the festival with peace and harmony.’’
