Adebutu Meets Olota: Olofin Adimula Palace Rejects Collective Awori Obas Claim
The Palace of the Olofin Adimula of Ado-Odo has clarified that the recent visit of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, to the Olota of Ota’s palace should not be interpreted as a representation or endorsement of all Awori traditional rulers in Ogun State.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued by Chief Kazeem Akinsola Nasir, the Ìríjú Oba of Ado-Odo and Secretary to the Palace of Olofin Adimula Oodua of Aworiland, and shared on the official Facebook handle of the Olofin Adimula on Wednesday.
The Palace was reacting to reports surrounding Adebutu’s visit to the Olota of Ota, reportedly in connection with an “Awori Obas Forum.”
According to the Palace, although Ota remains an important Awori town and the Olota is a respected traditional ruler within his jurisdiction, the gathering appeared to have been limited to monarchs from the Ota axis and Igbesa area.
It therefore cautioned against presenting the meeting as the collective position of Awori traditional rulers across Ogun State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is presently no legally recognised Awori Traditional Council or Awori Council of Obas in Ogun State that confers authority on any individual monarch to speak or act on behalf of all Awori traditional rulers across the State,” the statement said.
The Palace further stressed the distinct traditional position of the Olofin of Ado-Odo, describing the monarch as the most senior traditional ruler in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
It maintained that the Olofin cannot be subsumed under or placed under the leadership of any purported Awori Obas Forum that lacks statutory recognition and in which the Olofin is not a member.
The Palace urged members of the public, political actors, media organisations and other stakeholders to exercise caution when interpreting meetings between politicians and traditional rulers, particularly those organised under informal platforms.
It added that the participation of selected traditional rulers in political engagements should not automatically be portrayed as the collective position of the entire Awori traditional institution.
The Olofin Adimula Palace reaffirmed its commitment to the unity, peace, development and preservation of Awori heritage, while insisting that the historical and legally recognised status of individual traditional institutions must be respected.
