From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The selection and installation of Oba Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland have been nullified, and decared null and void by the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ogbomoso.
Prince Kabir Laoye, who instituted the litigation had told the court that due process was not followed in the selection and installation of the new monarch in Ogbomoso.
He prayed the court to nullify the selection of Oba Olaoye. He also sought for an order for the commencement of a fresh selection process by the kingmakers.
The court ruled in favour of Prince Kabir Olaoye, who had challenged Ghandi’s eligibility for the prestigious position.
The Oyo State Government had announced Olaoye as the new Soun, and the kingmakers of the town proceeded to install him on September 8, 2023.
However, Prince Kabir Olaoye quickly took legal action, claiming that Ghandi’s selection did not follow due process and the Ogbomoso chieftaincy declaration.
Justice K.A. Adedokun, presiding over the case, granted an ex-parte motion filed by Kabir, and the court ordered the state governor, as well as Attorney-General, and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state to refrain from any activities related to Ghandi’s installation until a final decision was reached.
Justice Adedokun, declared Ghandi’s selection and installation as Soun of Ogbomoso null and void. The court further directed the kingmakers to commence a fresh selection process to choose a new monarch for the town.
It was gathered that the ruling has sent shockwaves through Ogbomoso community on the stool of Soun of Ogbomoso, which is a highly revered traditional throne.
As at press time, there was no official statement on whether Oba Olaoye would challenge the rulling of the High Court in the Court of Appeal.
Daily Sun can report that on Friday September 8, 2023, Ogbomoso, one of the major towns in Oyo State, was agog, as Prince Afolabi Ghadi Olaoye was installed as Soun of Ogbomosoland, following consent of Governor Seyi Makinde of the state, who made the approval known on Saturday September 2, this year, through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Segun Olayiwola.
The installation came barely 21 months after the demise of the immediate past Soun, the late Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021. The new Soun was installed as Oba Afolabi Ghadi Olaoye, Orumogege III. By records, he is the 28th Soun of Ogbomosoland.
The king then proceeded to seclusion for seven days. He came out from the seclusion on Thursday September 14, 2023. The event attracted illustrious sons and eminent daughters of Ogbomoso to rejoice with the new king, including the renowned Nigerian non-denominational preacher and author, Bro Gbile Akanni, who is the founder of Peace House in Gboko, Benue State, and hails from Masifa in Ogbomoso.
But a serious controversy trailed the selection and installation of the new king from his own Laoye Royal Family. Available information revealed that there are five royal families in Ogbomoso that have been producing monarchs for the town on rotational basis. The new king, as gathered, is from Laoye Royal Family. But the selection of the new king from the family was greeted with political intrigues that probably divided the family into two, with each queuing behind different princes.
Prince Oluwakayode Olatunji Olaoye said there are 10 houses in the Laoye Royal Family, and the new king is from Kape, which is one of the houses. He added that he was aware that the name of Prince Afolabi Ghadi Olaoye was sent to the government in April 2022 for approval.