New Balogun of Ogbomoso blocked by angry princesses from entering palace

New Balogun of Ogbomoso blocked by angry princesses from entering palace

Khalid ABRAHAM

The newly installed Balogun of Ogbomosoland High Chief Dr Saka Adegbite Balogun was on Monday prevented from entering the palace of Ogbomoso and was totally subjected to embarrassment that he had to hurry out in humiliation.

According to information obtained High Chief Balogun had gone to the palace, this is likely his first since after his inauguration, but as he alighted and made to access the palace court some princesses (from different ruling houses) in the palace yard swooped on him challenging him what he wanted in the palace after his recent outbursts against the Soun throne and chiefs.

“After you and Olugbon (Oba Francis Olusola Alao) insulted the Soun throne, and degraded it as an haven of cultists and not having allegiance to it what effrontery do you have to come here again?” He was said to have been confronted with such question, an eyewitness told Ogbomoso Insight.

“You cannot enter here you better go back. Why must you come to a den of cultists as you claimed, why must you venture into the palace whose head you said you owe no allegiance to! You are not welcome.

“When he said he was in the palace to complete his chieftaincy rites (kiije), his traducers pointedly insisted the Soun was not available and he should go. He said he wanted to greet the chiefs but they said he could only be admitted when the Soun is on seat.”

It resulted into shouting match and eventually the Balogun who was in company with many of his aides was blocked, humiliated and driven away.

Meanwhile, investigations revealed that he had been told not to come on Monday that the Soun Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III was not around. This was on the ground that it was the Soun who according to tradition would admit him and allocate his permanent seat in order of ranks and that since the Oba was not in, no chief could play that role.

The Areago of Ogbomosoland High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin also reportedly informed him earlier that the Kabiyesi was not available that he should hold on till Kabiyesi comes back, and that the Areago clearly told him there was a procedure, and that only the Soun reserves the authority to traditionally receive him into the council and allocate him his seat.

But he still ventured to go.

Recall that Dr Balogun and the Olugbon at the Ogbomoso Parapo’s annual general meeting held last Saturday, in separate remarks disparaged the Soun and the chiefs. The Balogun said brazenly that they lacked much knowledge about the history and issues of Ogbomoso boasting that now that he is a chief, “Nobody can remove me again. Ati ti oje bo olosa lowo ko si Baba eni to leyo (the high priest has had his hand slid into the iron chain no one can remove it).”

All manners of unprintable words were uttered about Oba Olaoye and the Soun throne amounting to ridicule, which irked many people. This was the background of the turmoil on Monday.

Meanwhile Dr Balogun could not be reached for his reaction as at the time of filing this report