The duo are interested in securing the Labour Party ticket to represent the people of the southern senatorial district of the state.

Mr. Kunlere contested in the April 21, 2007 elections and lost to the Peoples Democratic Party candidate.

The national headquarters of the Labour Party had ordered political appointees seeking elective offices to tender their resignation before August 31st.

The state commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele said the resignation of the two former cabinet members was a clear indication that Mr Mimikos administration values internal democracy.

He said it was further attestation to the commitment of the current administration to do things the right and democratic way.

Mr Akerele said Mr Mimiko had formally accepted the resignation. Olusegun Mimiko has accepted the resignation of both Kunlere and Omogunwa in good fate. He praised the duo for their contribution to the development of the state during their stay in office, he said.

Mr Kunlere, while speaking at a news conference where his opponent was conspicuously absent, said his resignation was in line with the electoral guidelines of the party which directed all political appointees seeking elective positions to resign their appointments on or before August 31st.
Source: by Ayo Moradeyo, NEXT

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.