A former pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Laoye, was installed as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland in Oyo State on Friday.
The Soun of Ogbomoso stool became vacant after Oba Jimoh Oyewumi passed away on December 12, 2021.
Some members of the royal family opposed the approval of Laoye and went to court.
Laoye, who was based in the United States of America, arrived in Ogbomoso early in the morning in a private chopper, which landed at Ogbomoso Grammar School, before moving to the palace.
However, some members of the family opposed the approval and went to court, arguing that he was not part of the process from the beginning and should not be crowned against their wishes. The family members filed a lawsuit, marked HOG/27/2022, in July 2022, against the nomination of Ghandi Olaoye by the kingmakers, citing various irregularities in the procedures that produced him. They prayed the court to, among other things, set aside the nomination and order a fresh process.
The judge, A.K. Adedokun, scheduled the judgment day after Olaoye’s counsel, Oladapo Atanda, and Kolawole Fatoye, who represented Ghandi and the kingmakers, presented their arguments for and against the suit. The defendants in the case include the Oyo State Governor, Oyo State Attorney General, Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council, and Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye (Mogaji Olaoye Ruling House), who are the 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
The 7th to 11th defendants are the kingmakers: Chief S.O. Otolorin (Areago of Ogbomoso and Chairman), Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun), Chief Tijani Abioye (Bara), Chief David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba), and Chief Yusuf Oladipupo (Abese), while Prince Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun nominee, is the 12th defendant. The plaintiff claimed that the regulations guiding the nomination to fill the vacant stool of Soun Chieftaincy Ogbomoso, which include the Soun Chieftaincy Declaration (1958), Ogbomoso District Native Authority Resolution (1953), and Oyo State Chiefs Law (2000), were grossly violated.
They sought relief, stating that the procedure for Ghandi’s nomination was inconclusive, as a minority committee performed the task instead of involving all members of the family. They wanted the court to declare that the active participation of the 4th defendant (Ogbomoso North Local Government) in the process leading to the emergence of Ghandi Olaoye, rather than being a mere observer, invalidates the process.
The claimant, therefore, sought orders of the court to set aside the nomination of Ghandi, noting that the procedure that produced him contravenes native law and custom for the selection of a candidate for the new Soun.
Additionally, the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th defendants, represented by Kolawole Fatoye, Olalekan Oguntoye, and O.E. Igene, filed counterclaims to which the claimant also filed a defense.
The legal team of the 7th to 10th defendants, who also represented Ghandi, urged the court to dismiss the claim and grant the counterclaim, noting that all the procedures listed above clearly showed that the 12th defendant was duly nominated by the Laoye ruling house and selected by the kingmakers. They asserted that the plaintiff filed this action because the selection did not favor him after he participated in the nomination and selection exercise with others.
The judge, Adedokun, therefore, scheduled the judgment for October 3. However, on Saturday, September 2, the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, in a statement by his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, approved the selection of Olaoye as the next Soun. Then, on Thursday, the state High Court in Ogbomoso restrained the governor, the Attorney General of the State, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters from presenting any instrument of office or conducting a ceremony for the issuance of the certificate of installation to Olaoye until the final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court. However, the new monarch was at the palace on Friday for an official installation performed at Abata by the kingmakers led by the Areago High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin.
The kingmakers stated that they did not receive any court injunction restraining them from installing Ghandi as the new Soun of Ogbomoso. He is expected to begin the traditional rites soon. The new Oba is proclaimed His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III."
Following the installation of Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland, despite a court order, the situation in Ogbomoso remains tense as opposing factions within the royal family and the community express their discontent. The court order, which restrained Governor Seyi Makinde and other government officials from conducting any installation ceremony for Olaoye, was disregarded by the kingmakers who proceeded with the installation.
The decision to install Olaoye as the new Soun has further divided the already fragmented royal family and sparked protests and tension within the community. Supporters of the opposing faction believe that the proper selection process was not followed, citing the violation of regulations and native laws in the nomination of Olaoye. They argue that the participation of the Ogbomoso North Local Government, as an active player in the process, invalidates the entire selection.
Meanwhile, the legal teams representing both parties presented their arguments in court, with the defendants asserting that the selection process was conducted according to the appropriate regulations. They maintain that Olaoye was duly nominated and selected by the kingmakers, and any allegations of irregularities are baseless.
The judge, A.K. Adedokun, who presided over the case, scheduled the judgment for October 3. However, the installation of Olaoye by the kingmakers has added a complicating factor to the ongoing legal proceedings. It remains uncertain how this act of defiance will influence the judgment and the overall resolution of the dispute.
The state government's approval of Olaoye's selection further complicates the matter, as it disregards the court order and undermines the legal process. This disregard for the rule of law has fueled anger and frustration among the opposing faction of the royal family and the community at large.
As Olaoye assumes his role as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland, the traditional rites associated with his position are expected to commence soon. However, it is unclear how his reign will be received by the community, given the controversy surrounding his selection and installation.
The situation in Ogbomoso calls for calm and a peaceful resolution to the dispute. It is imperative that all parties involved respect the rule of law and engage in dialogue to find a mutually agreeable solution. The well-being and unity of the Ogbomoso community should be the priority, as the smooth transition of power and the establishment of a legitimate leadership are crucial for the progress and development of the region.