Image caption: Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun (third left), Olugbon Oba Olusola Alao (third right) and other Obas on the podium during the meeting
Ibadan blast: Soun leads Oyo Obas to commiserate with Makinde
Khalid ABRAHAM
Members of the Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs Tuesday met with the Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde to express condolences over the last week dynamite explosion in Bodija area of Ibadan, the state capital, which caused widespread destructionist and death of a number of people.
The Oyo Obas who have not been holding their statutory meetings over irreconcilable differences however came together Tuesday to commiserate with the government of the state and the victims.
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With the vacancy in the throne of Alaafin of Oyo, the absence of Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Lekan Balogun (though represented), the third of the triumvirate leadership of the council, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomoso, led the other Obas to the meeting.
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According to information gathered the Obas sympathized with the government while also deliberating extensively on the issue of insecurity bedeviling the state with focus on how to improve the situation and curtailing illegal activities of miners.
In a social media post Tuesday, Governor Seyi Makinde wrote, “Earlier today, we received the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State on a visit to commiserate with us over the Bodija incident. During the visit, we extensively discussed the issue of security in our communities especially intelligence gathering, and steps we can collectively take to support the security agencies to address illegal activities of miners. We resolved to continue working together for the benefit of our people.”
Some other traditional rulers at the meeting are Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao (who is a vice chairman of the council); the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran; and Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola.
