Today marks exactly 2yrs of Oba Ghandi on throne: A fire has been started …
Femi OGUNLANA
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After about 21 months lull, the vacant stool of the Soun of Ogbomosoland was filled with the installation of His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III on Friday, September 8, 2023. His predecessor Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR, joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021. The inauguration of Oba Ghandi Olaoye thus marked a new beginning in the history of Ogbomosoland. It is a new epoch with character different from the previous era though with the retention of the aspiration for progress and development. The past two years have been frenetic. Obaship is being redefined in alignment with the 21st century trend. In Ogbomoso in the period under review, we have witnessed fire of development being kindled, it is only those who are contempt-inclined that will describe the passing of an elephant as having a mere glimpse of something. We couldn’t have wished for a better monarch.
Below is an highlight of some of his key contributions to the evolution of Ogbomoso as compiled by ogbomosoinsightonline.com.
1. Reawakening of patriotic zeal – One major focus of Oba Ghandi is inspiring the indigenes home and in the diaspora to start to believe in their community and strive towards its development. This is yielding positive results already as those who have the wherewithal are getting driven by enthusiasm to make contributions and invest at home. We have seen hotels, farms, depots and so on springing up.
2. Economic rebirth – Oba Ghandi is determined to expand the economic prosperity of his domain and beyond. To this end he is attracting foreign direct investment. We now have the Ennovate Lab in Ogbomoso, a tech firm which has injected about a billion naira into the economy of the city and driving the aspiration to make Ogbomoso a tech hub. There is also a huge investment coming the way of agriculture. The Oba is likewise focusing on market development: the Oja’gbo Market has been redesigned and rebuilt bearing the trappings of modernity, courtesy of his vision. Some other markets are gearing up to witness rebuild just as some new ones are springing up, ignited by his dream. The moribund Aso-Oke industry in Ogbomoso is also to witness a revival following securing funding for a modern weaving centre which will soon be inaugurated. His will is opening up the previously unutilised Oyo state Ultramodern Market built in the city. Through his strategic intervention, the butchers and meatsellers relocated to the place after years of resistance. By the time Ofi weavers and traders commence operations there too, commercial activities will receive further boost. This is as it is mooted a plan to turn Ogbomoso into a transhipment hub as centre for exchange of goods between north and south. Furthermore, an economic summit has been held and another one is scheduled for October. The summit is to create awareness about the economic potentials of the zone to unlock investments.
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3. Educational advancement – His Majesty is no doubt expanding the frontiers of education. Tomorrow (September 9), a massive education summit will hold inspired by his vision. It will chart a course for the future of education in the community. The Oba has been emphasizing the importance of education in shaping the future of Ogbomoso. He is asserting that the dream of enlarging the coast of the town and sustain its development will be achieved if only indigenes sit at decision making tables at the highest level in the future which only sound education can guarantee. To arouse students’ interest he has unveiled scholarship programmes and other incentives for best performers – students, teachers and schools alike.
4. Cultural renaissance – Ogbomoso is undergoing a cultural revolution that will in the long run boost the town’s economy and develop its tourism sector. The unprecedented Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival whose first edition held in December 2024 is an event aimed to achieve these goals. The highly successful maiden edition has created more opportunities such as the revival of Aso Oke industry and can only get bigger and better. In addition, interest is growing in abandoned cuisines, and the Oba is leading the charge for the re-production of the epic film Ogbori-Elemoso that will be put on Netflix. People are now also embracing the Aso Oke after steady decline over the years.
5. Development of infrastructure – Road infrastructure has received the attention of the Oba. He has personally intervened committing his resources to road rehabilitation. Through his instrumentality and others the long abandoned Ogbomoso – Oyo dual carriageway has been re-awarded and work is going on at an impressive rate. The Oba has not rested on the campaign to achieve the completion of the Ogbomoso 132kv power substation likewise. He visited Abuja on it several times, and only last week took the clamour for its energization to President Bola Tinubu who promised to look into it. “I have taken a strong note of it,” the President had said. There is also the King’s efforts on supply of potable water. He donated and encouraged others to contribute towards the resuscitation of Ogbomoso Water Works. Water is now flowing within the ambit of the old networks, electricity supply is however its bane. Currently also drilling of boreholes is commencing across the five local governments making up Ogbomoso zone, also courtesy of his efforts. He enlivened volunteers to contribute to the project even those who are non-indigenes. In the first batch it’s learnt 50 boreholes will be provided. Resuscitation of the two water works in Ogbomoso and provision of commercial boreholes the Oba similarly appealed to the President for.
6. Bolstering of security through building of police stations – Oba Olaoye has identified improved security as sine qua non to overall development. Hence, construction of ten police stations is being activated with necessary approval already obtained. The monarch has gotten people to undertake the projects. Land is a major problem constraining rapid development though.
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7. 25 year-development plan – This has been described as a bold and ambitious initiative. Governments we know that launch development plans, for a traditional ruler to initiate one is unheard of. To show his resolve he inaugurated 13 different committees to galvanize and actualize the vision. Some of the committees are already making great strides. He has underlined that Ogbomoso must be transformed into a model city, and this development agenda is geared to stimulate this.
8. Fostering of unity – It is incontestable that the level of unity in the zone today is encouraging. It is a great leap forward taking cognisance of what permeated the zone especially among Obas in recent decades. It is unprecedented that a powerful delegation of traditional rulers from Ogbomosoland would visit the Presidency to make unselfish presentation. The Kabiyesi’s novel townhall meeting at which he enunciates his development plan, focus and ongoing projects, which also fosters familiarization is a masterstroke. He is unraveling an era defined by the Oba directly feeling the pulse of his subjects. Interestingly, as he familiarises with his subjects at home he also visits Ogbomosos in the diaspora to fuel their enthusiasm about their community and forge greater understanding and unity for an all round development. He has also been visiting brother Obas across the zone, it is a new dawn.
9. Development through chieftaincy conferment – The Ogbomoso Oba has unfolded a new formula for accelerated development. Rather than him taking money and other gratification from prospective chiefs the practice now is to identify a project for execution by such prospects. We have seen this resulted in the upgrading of the ancient Oja’gbo Market. This is an innovative and creative introduction.
10. Growing rate of project commissioning – It is heartening, the frequency of project commissioning in recent times. It is manifestation of his thirst for growth and development. The rate is probably unprecedented. “Soun commissions this,” “Soun commissions that” rings the news in recent times.
11. Palace renovation – Since the new Soun ascended the throne the renovation of the palace has been a continuous process, both interior and exterior, to give it a more exquisite taste and look.
12. Orumogege football, golf, cycling and marathon races are some of the competitions the reign of Oba Ghandi has provoked. His efforts have elicited a lot of people to invest in sports development, Yajifarz Cup which began this year is one of such. Sports development is assured and in the nearest future the benefits will be reaped.
13. Health wellness – Donation of medical equipment and free medical programmes have been intensified under the reign of Oba Olaoye. Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) as an instance was given equipment and other materials to enhance the hospital’s services and deliveries to the public under a programme incited by the Oba. Thousands of others have also benefited free health programmes even as another massive one is being packaged by his health committee. Also, he keeps on emphasizing only Ogbomoso city has two teaching hospitals and that this should be leveraged upon to make Ogbomoso a centre of medical excellence. To give vim to this he has asked President Bola Tinubu to help staff a specialist hospital in the city and to upgrade another into a Federal Medical Centre. Similarly, he recently turned the sod for the construction of a primary healthcare facility in Oriire local government.
13. Fostering of amicable settlement between the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) and the Osupa Chieftaincy Family – Land dispute between the two institutions over ownership of the land Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) and the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS) occupy which had become a matter of litigation was satisfactorily resolved by the Oba.
14. Empowerment and skills acquisition training programmes – This has been a continuous thing promoted by the Job Creation Committee inaugurated by the Oba. Among others it facilitated a Bank of Industry BOI funding for training of indigenes in various skills bolstered with empowerment programmes.
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15. Stimulation of private investors – The positive vibes emanating from Ogbomoso are evoking private investors to invest in the zone. Private housing estates and other businesses are taking off with many more seeking information on opportunities.
16. Siting of a new federal institution – The Federal Government newly established an institution – Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS), through the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) with academic session anticipated to take off this September. It is a specialised monothecnic that will offer diploma programmes designed to professionalise cultural studies in Nigeria. Four pilot campuses have been announced including Ogbomoso.
17. Forging diplomatic relationships – With different Obas, to institutions and important people he is kindling friendly relationship that will ultimately help in projecting the domain.
18. Inspiring respect for Ogbomoso, his great speech at the Presidential Villa is an an instance – His mien, comportment, urbane outlook and oratorical ability are projecting Ogbomoso in a new light. He is sustaining the “steeze” and flair introduced by his predecessors especially Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who greatly thrust forward the dignity of the realm.
19. Enthronement of peace – Ogbomoso is experiencing a new era of peace. Despite some unfortunate issues and distractions the community thrives on peaceful coexistence. Tranquility reigns, through wisdom, patience and perseverance the new monarch manages the situation. Energy is now being redirected to progressive efforts instead of intractable wrangling.
20. Land disputes subsiding – His insistence on aversion to land tussle and inviting the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbing Agency for sensitisation has no doubt mitigated crises arising from land disputes in the zone and is restoring people’s confidence in investment.
Much more than the above Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has started a fire of renaissance, a burning desire for reinvigoration, re-inventing and rejuvenation of Ogbomosoland that will make it a modern, smart city.
Congratulations on his two years as Soun, we wish him many more years on the throne of his forefathers.
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