In December 2009, the Rebuja of Osooroland, HRM Oba Gbadebo Bajowa made history when he installed an illustrious Osooro son as the Gbasun-Moko of Osooro Kingdom, ushering into the committee of High Chiefs and the fifth in rank in the political hierarchy of Osooro traditional leadership. In this interview, High Chief Owate, a chartered accountant and former General Manager (Finance) of the Federal Housing Authority explains the significance of the event and discusses the Osooro traditional heritage. Below are excerpts:

CN:Congratulations again sir, on your installation as the Gbasun-Moko

Ans: Thank you.

CN: Who are the Gbasun-Mokos?

Ans: Thank you. There are five principal families in Osooroland. They are settled in various towns and villages in Osooro – Iju Odo, Igbotako, Ilutitun, Iju Oke, Omotoso, Akinfosile, Erekiti, Irowa, Ilade and so on. These five families are the Lamure, the Joola, the Akoko, the Lemegha and the Moko family. They co-habit Osooro from times of old till the present day.

CN: But historians in most cases have documented four families – Lumure, Joola, Akoko and Lemegha. Some even wrote that the Mokos are part of the Joolas.

Ans: Such documentations are inaccurate. There are some historians who documented the families properly. The Abodi of Ikaleland and Petu Feela of Moko family settled at Odeluwo for many years. At Odeluwo, Petu Feela Omoboyo of Moko family gave birth to Gbasun Aheri Asako. When Abodi moved to Ikoya, Petu Feela also moved with him, taking along some of his children while leaving some of them behind at Odeluwo. One of the children left behind at Odeluwa was Gbasun Aheri Asako (the Moko family). After many years at Odeluwo, Gbasun Aheri Asako moved down to establish a settlement in what is today Iju Odo. That is why the gabsun Quarter is a central point in Iju Odo till today.

CN: How is the Gbasun related or linked to the royal traditional institution or dynasty?

Ans: There is no controversy over the fact that Gbasun Aheri Omoboye of Moko family was a member of the Ijama congress in Osooro and also head of the Gbasun Quarters in Iju Odo. This was reasonable in the sense that the Gbasuns are the next largest indigenous population of Ikales in Osooro after the other four. What Rebuja Bajowa did was just to re-position the Gbasun-Moko. It is not an entirely new thing.

CN: Apart from Iju Odo, do you have the Gbasuns in other places in Osooro?

Ans: Yes of course. Our people are in Igbotako and Ilutitun, even in Ikoya. My own father, the late Ruwale Isaac Owate settled in Iju Odo and Igbotako. He has an ancient settlement in Ikoya. Many of my cousins till today live in Ilutitun- Osooro. Recently, some people in Ajagba and Feela and Odeluwo. But the Gabsun-Mokos are more preponderant in Iju Odo.

CN: What did the installation involve?

Ans: It was like any important installation or coronation. Oba Gbadebo said during the installation that it was in recognition of my contribution to the development of Osooroland apart from being a direct descendant of Moko. It involved the normal chieftaincy rites.

CN: How do you feel occupying such an exalted position?

Ans: Well, I thank Almighty God. It is an enormous responsibility. It means I am not the traditional head of the Moko. You know in Ikale tradition, the Quarter is a very important unit of administration. Usually, before an issue goes to the traditional ruler of the community, it is first tackled by the family. If the plaintiffs or defendants are not satisfied it goes on appeal to the Quarter Head. It is after that, that it goes to the traditional ruler. That is why it appears in our community, we don’t have disputes and the police do not have much to do. Ikale is very organized traditionally in everything. That is why I admire our culture. As an Osooro High Chief, I have to be a custodian of Osooro culture and tradition. By the grace of God I will not disappoint. I love the Ikale culture and will continue to love it till my last day on earth.

CN: Do you subscribe to traditional rulers participating in politics?

Ans: No, I don’t. It is patently wrong. A traditional ruler who meddles into politics will lose his respect before his subjects. For a civil servant, businessman and even a chief or high chief, it is okay but the Oba occupies a more scared and distinct office that must be corrupted or polluted. As a matter of fact, it is much beneficial to the Oba if he is at home to all political parties. They are all your children those in the parties. If a Labour Party member and a People’s Democratic Party member quarrel over a missing goat and they come to the Oba to settle and the Oba belongs to say LP, whichever way the judgment goes, the people will not be happy. The LP man will say, he did not support his party member; the PDP man will say he gave judgment against me because I am no a member of his party. So Obas should steer clear of politics; not even indirectly should they be involved. That is my position.

CN: What have been your priorities since you became the Gbasun Moko?

Ans: Apart from trying to preserve our culture and heritage I have been paying particular attention to fostering unity within the Gbasun Moko family and then ensuring that the family relates peacefully with other quarters in the Kingdom. I also worry about our youths and I am working on some ideas to assist our youths.

Elder Tunji Olatunji, a successful businessman specializing in oil and gas is again contesting for the Okitipupa / Irele Federal Constituency seat of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party. He speaks with Coastal News on his vision for the constituency. Enjoy the excerpts as recorded by Mission Wowo.

CL: You have been in the Reps race in Okitipupa / Irele Federal Constituency. Why exactly are you in the race?

Tunji: There are many reasons when you intend to do something and you have not achieved it, you continue to struggle until you achieve it. Another reason that I have a package for my people which I have not delivered. I believe that if I have the opportunity this time around I would be able to deliver this package.

CN: What is this package?

Tunji: I mean a political package that would suit aspirations of our people for a fulfilling life.

CN: What are the things the people should expect from this package?

Tunji: You see that in our area, there is a lot of school certificate, they find it difficult to pay their school fees at the higher institutions. Therefore some brilliant students will just terminate their education. I would assist such persons. During Irele Day celebration, I provided students with money to pay for their GCE and WAEC dues. I did this to kick start my vision for the education and advancement of our people our people.

CN: Who were the beneficiaries?

Tunji: We took two students from each of the public schools in Irele.

CN: Is that all you intend to do for the people?

Tunji: Also, I have the plan to give Agricultural Inputs to farmers at subsidizing rates. This will certainly enable them to have better yields in terms of their production.

You see, people dealing with cocoa, it is not every one of them that can buy farm inputs, I desire to come to the aid of such persons.

Thirdly, market women in the area need empowerment. Like what His Excellency did during the beginning of the administration. He gave N50,000 to each market woman. In such gestures, it is not possible for every one to benefit, so I hope to compliment His Excellency’s effort by involving more people.

I equally hope to provide more job opportunities to the youths. This is a thing I have been doing on my own for close to two decades. I hope to do more of employment generation for the youths, some of the residents of Irele and Okitipupa local government have been facing the challenges of erosion. I would liaise with the relevant government agencies to bring lasting solution to this problem and also assist victims of such with the necessary materials.

Lastly, I will ensure that the people of Irele / Okitipupa Federal Constituency and the entire South Senatorial District is connected to the 2^nd phase of the 365KVA at Omotosho so as to solve the problem of erratic power supply.

CN: Considering the fact that the former Governor, Agagu is from that constituency, do you think you can have an easy sail even if you win your party’s primary?

Tunji: It is a simple mathematics. Very very simple mathematics. Look at the state when Agagu was governor and now you will discover that Mimiko has brought a lot of differences. You will discover that what Agagu looked at as impossible, this government has been able to do within a short time. This has given advantage to whoever is contesting election on the platform of the Labour Party. Because of the wonderful performances of Mimiko’s government, I and indeed all others that will be flying the flag of the Labour Party would win without any problem.

CN: Can you mention some of the achievements of the governor?

Tunji: The achievements are too numerous to mention but I can just give you some: you will recall that the present administration paid all the outstanding salaries of Pensioners which was owed by Agagu’s administration. You will also remember that Mimiko paid the outstanding allowances and benefits of past political office holders irrespective of their political yearnings. Get to the hospitals and you will discover that they are stocked to capacity with drugs, market women are given loans regularly and markets are built to standard with all the modern facilities.

Students are getting their bursaries and scholarships regularly without stress. The list is just countless. Infact, Mimiko is sent to Ondo State to deliver the people and he is doing all he can to accomplish this mission.

I would like to add that with the level of  education of the people on one man one vote where rigging will no longer be allowed, we in the Labour Party can be sure of victory anytime anyday. You know what happened during the House of Assembly re-run election in Akure North. Also remember the by – election in Akoko South. Even the Ilaje election that will be coming up soon will be a test case. You will see how the LP will clear the whole votes.

Furthermore, if you look at the PDP in Ondo State, it is just like somebody falling from a 10 story building. To identify him will be a problem. On a daily basis you see the people that matter in PDP crossing to the Labour Party. In fact, the PDP in Ondo State is only a shadow of itself.

Even the last election that I contested, it was not as if PDP won, they saw that I was already on the path to victory so they framed me and some other leaders of the LP up, terrorized us dehumanized us and used the soldiers and the police to rig the election.

In summary, if I could win at that time when Agagu was in power, now that he is no where it will be a walkover because most of those who were making things to happen in the PDP are now in the Labour Party.

CN: What is your advice to the people of Okitipupa / Irele federal constituency?

Tunji: My advice to them is that they should be steadfast, listen to advice from the elders of the party and they should not waiver in their support for the governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as he gradually dishes out the dividends of democracy to them.