BREAKING: Olota blasts Alake: Putting Olota under Alake is a misnomer

David Adenekan
David Adenekan
The 1st grand MUFTI of Ota-Aworiland: Matters arising
Olota of Otta, Oba Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege

The Olota of Otta, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, has faulted the claim of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, that he and the people of Ota were under his (Alake) authority.

Oba Obalanlege said the claim by the Alake was false and a misnomer.

The denial was made in a statement by the Olota of Otta and made available to FrontPage on Saturday.

Oba Obalanlege stated that the settlement of Awori people preceded the establishment of Abeokuta as an Egba Kingdom in 1830, adding that Ota had been existing since the 15th century.

According to him, the first Olota, Oba Ikoriku Toribo, was coronated in 1621, while the first Alake in Abeokuta,  Sagbua Okukenu, was crowned on 8th August,  1854.

“It goes without saying that putting an Olota under an Alake is both a traditional misnomer and historic fallacy,” he said.

The full statement by Olota reads:

“My response to Alake in Council: Though I am presently on official assignment in Switzerland, I need to remind Alake of Ake that in Ogun State, the settlement of Awori people preceded the establishment of Abeokuta as an Egba Kingdom in 1830. Otta, the foremost Awori town within the present Ogun State and which is the industrial nerve centre, for instance,  has been existing since the 15th century.  The first Olota, Oba Ikoriku Toribo was coronated in 1621, while the first Alake in Abeokuta,  Sagbua Okukenu was crowned on 8th August,  1854.

“It goes without saying that putting an Olota under an Alake is both a traditional misnomer and historic fallacy.  The Ife palace, where the crowns came from knows better! Never in history has Otta been captured by the Egbas, rather we rescued them from Oyo invasion.”

It would be recalled that the Olota in council raised alarm over the plan to install some non-indigenes as kings in Aworiland.

The council vowed however that the people of Awori would resist such attempt.

It was against the backdrop that the Alake of Egbaland stated that Ota and its king were under his authority.

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