From fragmentation to unity: Why Ogbomosoland must stand with the Soun’s visionary leadership by Kunle OYELEYE
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Ogbomoso stands at a crossroads—a moment of deep consequence and boundless potential. With the unveiling of the Soun of Ogbomosoland’s ambitious 25-year development plan, the ancient city is being offered a rare opportunity: a clear, visionary roadmap that promises not only modernization but the preservation of its rich cultural heritage.
Yet, amid this progress-driven agenda, voices of dissidence continue to surface, particularly among some lesser-ranking traditional authorities and local power brokers. This is not only unwise—it is dangerous. Ogbomoso is far too significant, too sophisticated, and too historically anchored to allow personal interests or petty rivalries to derail a project of such magnitude.
At the heart of this vision stands the Soun—Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, the Orumogege III—a monarch not only revered for his lineage but distinguished by his intellect, humility, and developmental foresight. In a time when many traditional stools across the nation are struggling to balance relevance with cultural preservation, Ogbomoso is fortunate—no, blessed—to have a towering figure whose ambition is not self-serving, but people-centered. To resist such a leader is not merely to defy tradition—it is to reject progress.
What many of these dissidents fail to grasp is that a city like Ogbomoso cannot afford fragmentation. It is too large, too advanced, too historically significant to lack a central rallying point. The Soun, by both tradition and merit, is that point. The more discord we foster, the more we risk losing the cohesion that has held Ogbomoso together for centuries. If this fissure deepens, the people—our youth, our future—may no longer be content to stand idly by. They may rise in alignment with what they see as a Gandhian call for unity and progress, demanding order where traditional leadership fails to provide it.
This call for unity is not limited to the palace walls. The five local government chairmen of Ogbomosoland must understand the urgency and rarity of this moment. They cannot afford to be evasive or passive. Politics is fleeting, but legacy is eternal. They have a narrow window—just a few years—to ensure Ogbomosoland takes its rightful place on the world’s development map. They must act boldly, decisively, and in tandem with the Soun’s vision.
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In this regard, we must commend the inspiring attendance and high level of civic engagement witnessed at the Ogbomoso South Town Hall Meeting. It was a resounding success—proof that the people are hungry for progress and eager to lend their voices to shaping the future. That meeting marked a promising beginning, a spark of unity and shared purpose that must now catch fire across the other four local government areas.
We therefore charge the people of Ogbomoso North, Oriire, Ogo Oluwa, and Surulere to match—and even exceed—the turnout seen in Ogbomoso South. These town hall engagements are not political charades; they are golden opportunities for direct contribution to the destiny of our homeland. This is the time to speak up, stand up, and show up—for Ogbomoso, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.
Oba Ghandi Olaoye has come not to preside over another chapter of conflict and stagnation, but to author a new story—one of reconciliation, strategic growth, and global relevance. He is rewriting the narrative from fragmentation to unity, from silence to ambition, from neglect to purposeful development.
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Now is the time to stand with the Soun—not just out of tradition, but out of reason, responsibility, and love for Ogbomosoland. Let every traditional ruler, religious leader, community head, and political actor rally behind this noble mission. Let all hands be on deck. Let every heart beat in unison with the rhythm of progress.
We owe it to our ancestors—and more importantly, to our descendants.
