The Odauhene, Daasebre Ofosu Kwabi Ayebiahwe has cautioned the Okyenhene to pay strong attention to the historical bond between Akyem Abuakwa and Akyem Odau traditional kingdoms and the role each plays in bringing harmony to the state.
Speaking at a meeting of the Palanquin Chiefs (Apakanfo) of the Odau Traditional Area, at Odau fie in Akyem Etwereso, Daasebre Ayebiahwe traced the historical bond between the two traditional kingdoms. He explained that the Odaus were hunters and fierce worries who held vast swathes of territory and led many of the historical battles fought between the Akyems and the Asantes. At the time when the old Asante Kingdom seemed unbeatable with the rise and military prowess of Otumfou Osei Tutu I, it was the Odaus that led the fight and handed Akyem its first victory over Asante military power.
He further explained that in consolidating the Akyem Abuakwa state, the Odauhene willingly join the new state as a friend and ally. “We did not join Akyem Abuakwa through conquest or liege, we joined as a friendly and willing alliance. When the Odauhene was joining the Okyenhene through the influence of Abrewa Dokua, the Odauhene brought his vast territories with already established towns including Etwereso and Osenase which served as his twin capitals. It was only recently in 1978 that the Odauhene decided that Akyem Osenase had grown large enough for him to devolve his traditional authority to some of his family and allowed for a substantive chief to be enstooled”.
“The Osenase stool is still occupied by members of the Royal Ofosu-Pema family who rule Etwereso and Odau. Anyone who ascends the Osenase stool qualifies to be enstooled Odauhene. It is on this that I do not understand why Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin is so determined to forcibly enstool one Asafo-Agyei as Osenase chief even though we have made clear presentations to him that Asafo-Agyei is not a member of the Royal Ofosu-Pema family”
“I acknowledged the leadership of the Okyenhene and I have served him well since my enstoolment as Odauhene. I have availed myself to all traditional duties and gone far above and beyond towards my personal service for him”
“However, my acknowledgement of his leadership does not negate my rights and responsibilities as Odauhene. The Okyenhene’s attempt to forcibly enstool a chief in Osenase, which is the exclusive jurisdiction of the Odauhene is wrong and will be resisted. Osenase is not an Akyem Abuakwa town, it is an Odau town.”
He warned that this interference risks fracturing the Akyem Abuakwa traditional alliance if it was not stopped. He stated that the Odauhene’s participation in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional State was a friendly alliance based on mutual respect and that the current actions undermined the tenets of that that friendship and could potentially destroy the alliance.
He further explained that previous occupants of the Ofori Payin Stool of Akyem Abuakwa had treated Odauhenes with respect that is deserving of an ally and have steered clear of interfering in matters directly affecting the Odauhene’s authority. That the current Okyenhene had been following the same trajectory as his predessesors until this issue of Osenase came up.
He gave examples that the protracted chieftancy disputes of Kwae, Chia and Moronamu were all referred to him for arbitration and settled when the feuding parties went straight to the Akyem Abuakwa traditional Council. They were all informed that they could not bypass the Odauhene on chieftancy issues that were within the exclusive domain of the Odau fie.
“When Kwae’s issue came, Osagyefo referred the matter to me and we settled it right here in this palace and now peace is reigning in Kwae. When we took up the Chia matter, that had been lingering for over 40 years, we settled it amicably in this same Odau fie and now Chia has a chief that was installed peaceful. How is it that when it come to my very own town that is directly linked with my Odau stool, Osagyefo does not want me to have a hand in it?”
The Odauhene controls vast swathes of land stretching from Ashanti Region to most parts of the eastern region.
With Akyem Etwereso and Akyem Osenase being the historical twin capitals, other histoical towns within the Akyem Odau area include Asante Akyem Banka, Akyem Chia, Akyem Adubiase, Akyem Odumase, Akyem Pramkese, Akyem Kwae, Akyem Subi, Akyem Buadua, Akyem Anweam and Moronamu.
There are 58 Smaller and newer settlements within the Odau Traditional Area including Kwaboadi No1 and No2.
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Source :www.kumasimail.com
