Soun visits Onijabata – see royal fathers who accompanied him (PHOTOS)

Soun visits Onijabata – see royal fathers who accompanied him (PHOTOS)

Femi OGUNLANA

In his effort to rekindle the mutual cooperation and alliance that worked to protect Ogbomoso from being overrun by war in the nineteenth century, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has paid a courtesy visit to the Onijabata of Jabata, His Royal Majesty Oba Mustapha Mafolasere Ajala Fadipe lll, at his palace in Jabata, Surulere local government.

Oba Olaoye was accompanied on the trip by the duo of Alajaawa of Ajaawa His Royal Majesty Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji, and the Oloko of Okoland, His Royal Majesty Oba Olagoke Solomon Akinola.

In his remark Soun commended his host declaring he had a special affection for him. “I must say I have special affection for Your Majesty Onijabata. I decided to make Jabata my first port of call this year and thank God I have fulfilled it,” Soun said, while emphasizing that development of the zone through mutual cooperation remains his goal.

The paramount traditional ruler further averred that it is God that chose to elevate Soun to the eminent position he is not anyone’s making while asserting that the paramount thing ois for everyone to seek the progress of his domain.

“It pleases God to make Soun number one, the prima facie, it is not my making, it is God and no one can fight that successfully. Everyone has his domain, which he must seek to facilitate development to but let’s work together for the generally good of our zone. That remains my mission.”

In his speech the Onijabata expressing appreciation for the visit stated he was overwhelmed with joy for the visit.

Oba Ajala Fadipe said he agreed with the opinion of his guest while positing, “On the affinity between us because I am also impressed by you, it is perhaps due to our background as elite warriors. Jabata is a town of redoubtable warriors and so is Ogbomoso. While my progenitors were the fourth and fifth Aare Ona Kakanfos (Yoruba generalissimo) Ogbomoso emerged number eight and eleven (before late Samuel Ladoke Akintola emerged number 13). Kabiyesi Oba Ghandi it is that blood of gallantry flowing in our veins that must have ignited the mutual affection. Historically, we are connected being descendants of warriors and we are ones too.”

Soun responded in the affirmative, noting, “Perhaps that is why the bond of love is strong.”

Oba Ghandi who said he was heading to Osogbo from Jabata was however not in a hurry to leave, “even though I tried to stop those performing in order not to delay him unnecessarily, he urged restraint that I should leave them, indicating His Majesty was at home with us. He left late in the evening,” Onijabata told ogbomosoinsightonline.com later as he added, “Soun’s move is unprecedented in modern times, he has come in peace, he has been trying to unite the zone for progress. We are going to collaborate.”

Soun, who also visited the Jabata market, charged the market men and women to remain committed and be hardworking in order “to enhance their prosperity.”

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Jabata is renowned for its war exploits in the days of yore producing Adeta (4th) and Oku (5th) (who both were Baale Jabata) as Kakanfos while another was Osi Kakanfo (third in command to Aare Ona Kakanfo Afonja), Fagbohun. In fact, Faghohun, was said to have warned Afonja to retrace his steps (of rebellion against the Alaafin and disband his unruly army composed of several runaway Fulani and Hausa slaves) to avoid future calamity but the Aare Ona Kakanfo failed to heed this advice and rather schemed unsuccessfully to murder Fagbohun, who was Baale Jabata at the time. For its war mongering inclination, the town is today called “Jabata Ilu Aare Ona Kakanfo” (Jabata the town of Aare Ona Kakanfo).

Oba Ghandi in the past also visited Aale Okelerin, Oba Samuel Babatunde Amao; Alajaawa and Onisapa Oba Ezekiel Bolarinwa Olajide; and Oloko.