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Ogbomoso: Controversies, Litigation Halt Appointment Of New Soun

Published

3 years ago

September 29, 2022

There are indications that Ogbomoso, the second largest city in Oyo State, South West Nigeria may not have a new king soon.

This is owing to fresh controversies trailing the appointment of a new monarch.

Ogbomoso, a city situated at the northern part of the present Oyo State was founded by Oba Olabanjo Ogundiran Ogunlola, a warrior who conquered Elemosho, an invader and a terror who troubled some parts of the old Oyo empire for many years.

Based on available historical facts and evidence, Soun Ogunlola was the first Soun of Ogbomoso.

Ogunlola reigned between 1659 and 1714.

He was succeeded by Oba Erinsaba Alamu Jogioro 1741–1770.

Other monarchs who reigned in Ogbomoso based on the available historical facts are Oba Ikumoyeje Ajo 1770–1797, Oba Toyeje Akanni (Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland) 1797–1825, Oba Oluwusi Aremu 1826–1840, Oba Jaiyeola Are Arolofin Alao 1840–1842, Oba Idowu Bolanta Adigun 1842–1845, Oba Ogunlabi Odunlaro 1845–1860, Oba Ojo Aburumaku Adio (Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland) 1860–1869, Oba Gbagungboye Ajamasa Ajagungbade 1 1869–1871 and Oba Laoye Atanda Orumogege 1871–1901.

The rest are Oba Majengbasan Elepo 1 1901–1907, Oba Adegoke Atanda Layode 1 1908–1914, Oba Itabiyi Olanrewaju Ande 1914–1916, Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade 11 1916–2/18/1940, Oba Lawani Oke ‘Lanipekun 1944–3/19/1952, Oba Olatunji Alao Elepo 11 1952–1966, Oba Olajide Olayode 11 1966–7/1/1969, Oba Salami Ajiboye Itabiyi 6/4/1972–6/2/1973 and Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111 1973-2021.

The traditional council in Ogbomoso also known as (The Ilus- Awon Ilu) is made up of 7 chiefs, among whom are six males and a female. They are headed by the Areago. The traditional council consists of Areago, Jagun, Bara, Ikolaba, Abese, Balogun and Iyalode.

Other chieftaincy titles in Ogbomoso are the Baale of Ijeru, Baale of Isapa, Baale of Masifa, Baale of Pakiotan, Baale of Okelerin, Baale of Osupa and Aare Alasa.

According to DAILY POST, the town has no king at the moment.

The throne of the king of the city christened Soun of Ogbomoso became vacant as a result of the transition of the Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111 who joined his ancestors on Sunday, 12th December, 2021.

The monarch, who reigned for 48 years, joined his ancestors at the age of 95.

Born on May 27th, 1926, in Ogbomoso, he ascended the throne of his forefathers on October 24, 1973.

Even though the kingmakers said that they had concluded their work on the appointment of new Soun, the town had remained without a king.

It was gathered that the kingmakers have screened the princes who indicated interest to ascend the throne and have since picked a nominee to ascend the throne.

Twenty five indigenes from various families indicated interest in the throne.

The name of the Soun nominee, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, was submitted to the Oyo State government in March this year.

The kingmakers concluded their work on March 22, and dispatched the name of the nominee to Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, through Ogbomoso North Local Government.

But the selection and appointment of the new monarch has suffered another setback.

This was sequel to a court action by one of the contenders to the throne, Prince Kabir Muhammed Olaoye.

Olaoye challenged the process of appointment of the new monarch in suit number HOG/27/2022.

The case was instituted at an Oyo State High Court, Ogbomoso division.

The plaintiff is challenging the processes for the emergence of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.

He sought an injunction against the approval of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye by the Oyo State government and a repeat of the selection process.

The 1st to 6th defendants in the case are the Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde; Oyo State Attorney General; Oyo State commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters; Ogbomoso North Local Government; Ogbomoso North Traditional Council and the Mogaji of Olaoye family, Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye.

The 7th, 6th, 9th, 10th and 11th defendants are members of the kingmakers, among whom are Chief S. O. Otolorin (Areago of Ogbomosoland/chairman, kingmakers of Soun Chieftaincy Ogbomoso); Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun); Chief Tijani Abioye (Baara); Chief David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba); Chief Yusuf Kasali Oladipupo (Abese) while Prince Afolabi Ghandi Oladunni Olaoye (Soun nominee) is the 12th defendant.

After hearing the pleas of the counsels, the judge, Hon Justice Kareem Adedokun, granted an oral application by the counsel to Prince Kabir Olaoye, Barrister Dapo Atanda, that “parties should maintain status quo without waiting for the order of the court.”

Atanda in his oral application argued that the 12 defendants refused to file a memorandum of appearance and their statement of defence as required by law which is 30 days, noting that it was over three months ago they had been served the process.

“In those three months, they were sleeping and snoring on the matter, refusing to join issue with us,” said, praying the court for injunction against the approval of the nominee by the State government.

He then requested for an undertaking by the counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mrs. Funmi Adebayo, to stay action in the process, which was, however, declined.

Adebayo, on the contrary, prayed for an accelerated hearing on the matter.

Counsel to 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th defendants, Kola Fatoye, whom Peter Idowu held brief for, did not oppose the oral application.

Justice Adedokun, though refused the order of injunction, granted the application for status quo.

“The applications of the learned counsel to the claimant are hereby granted as prayed.”

Adedokun added that “All the parties in this suit are to maintain the status quo (i.e. the position they were in as of the date this suit was instituted).

“Also accelerated hearing of this matter is hereby ordered.”

The case has been adjourned till November 10, 2022, after the judge might have returned from leave.

DAILY POST reports that going by these developments, Ogbomoso may not have a new king soon.
DAILY POST

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

23 minutes ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the new service chiefs with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The ceremony, which began shortly after 2pm saw the President perform the decoration alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the decorated officers, each dressed in their respective service uniforms.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas and Chief of Naval Staff.

The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces.

Tinubu had earlier written the red chamber, seeking an expedited confirmation process “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”

It was observed that the ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers family members of the service chiefs and top officers from the various arms of the military.

The President, Vice President and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on each of the decorated chiefs.

The decoration came barely one week after the Presidency announced a sweeping reshuffle in the military hierarchy.

In the statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, it said the shake-up was part of efforts to inject new direction into the nation’s defence architecture.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later told our correspondent that the changes were not connected to recent rumours of a coup plot, saying, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.”

On Monday, Tinubu had met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa.

They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser, and the session lasted about 40 minutes.

Presidency sources said the President charged them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the North.

Last Friday’s reshuffle followed an October 19 report alleging that some officers were plotting to overthrow the government — a claim later dismissed by the Defence Headquarters as “false and mischievous.”

The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, said the alleged arrests linked to a coup were “issues of indiscipline” within the ranks, describing the report as “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

News

JUST IN: Eurozone Growth Beats Expectations In Third Quarter

Published

4 hours ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

The eurozone economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter of 2025, official data showed Thursday.

The EU’s data agency said the 20-country single currency area recorded growth of 0.2 per cent over the July-September period from the previous quarter.

The figure was higher than the 0.1 per cent forecast by analysts for Bloomberg and FactSet.

More details later…

News

PHOTOS: Police Inspector, Others Die In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Multiple-truck Crash

Published

5 hours ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

At least four persons were feared dead while several others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash involving five articulated trucks on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

A police inspector attached to the Lagos State Police Command was said to be among the victims.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who confirmed the incident on Thursday during a visit to the scene, said emergency response teams worked through the early hours to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.

“We have a case of multiple accidents at the border between Ogun and Lagos State. Five vehicles were involved, all articulated vehicles. Precisely, three people have been rescued from the scene of the accident.

“As early as 5 a.m., we have been on it, and we have other agencies here assisting us. We have LASTMA, the Road Safety Corps, and other security agencies,” Ishola said.

He explained that preliminary investigations showed the crash was caused by a trailer that suffered brake failure.

“At the beginning, we have a trailer that failed to brake, and it is important that everybody in charge of their vehicle ensures proper maintenance,” he stated.

The commissioner also confirmed the death of one of his officers who was part of the police advance team deployed to the scene.

“It’s very unfortunate that we lost one of our police inspectors who came with our advance team to salvage the situation,” he said.

Ishola cautioned motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, against reckless driving, which he described as a leading cause of fatal crashes on highways.

“We want road users, especially those driving articulated vehicles, to stop this kind of recklessness. If they are not reckless in their driving habit, we won’t have this kind of accident,” he warned.

Rescue operations involving the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and other agencies were still ongoing as of press time, while efforts to remove the damaged vehicles and restore traffic flow continued.