One year anniversary: Trajectory of Oba Orumogege III in Ogbomoso socio-cultural milieu
By Peter OLALEYE
Peter Olaleye, a reverend, is Coordinating Assistant on Media and Community Relations to Soun of Ogbomosoland.
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I congratulate His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, as today, Sunday, September 8, 2024, marks his one year in office as the Soun of Ogbomosoland. It is my prayer that he will celebrate many more years on the throne of his fathers. The throne Oba Ghandi inherited had attained greatness and to the glory of God he has not lowered its dignity; he has rather redefined the importance and function of traditional institution. From his activities in the last one year, we have been seeing that a traditional ruler doesn’t need to have airs, and does not need to oppress through land grabbing or unscrupulously appropriating what is not his. Oba Ghandi has demonstrated that collaborating with government to make life better for the people is the first role of a monarch. His Majesty often emphasizes that government in Nigeria bears heavy burdens and so needs men of good will to complement its efforts. He is always particularly full of commendations for Governor Seyi Makinde‘s developmental initiatives in Oyo State in spite of humongous odds, and is ever desirous to partner the government in bringing succour to his people. It is never his intention to be a burden or a heavy bag but a partner in progress. The strides of Kabiyesi Soun are exactly a replica of this.
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Where is he coming from? After successfully etching his name in gold as a successful businessman at the national and international stage heading numerous conglomerates as Chairman and having served in the vineyard of the Lord for over thirty years in the United States of America without scandals he joined the race for the stool of Soun after he was convinced to do so and on Wednesday, 22nd of March, 2022, he emerged the choice of the kingmakers led by the Areago, High Chief Samuel Sobalaje Otolorin. His name was communicated to the Oyo State Government in accordance with the provision of the Chieftaincy Laws. Then Prince Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye stayed the course, which lasted about one a half years. It was on Thursday, 29th of August, 2023, that Governor Seyi Makinde approved his appointment as the Soun of Ogbomosoland, and when the appointment was made public on Saturday, 2nd September, 2023, widespread jubilation erupted in Ogbomoso and beyond. More was the hilarity when on Friday, 8th of September, 2023, he was installed by the kingmakers to coolly take the throne of Soun Ogundiran Ogunlola, of Jogioro “Ogunlola,” of Atanda Olaoye “Ogunlola” Orumogege I and several great monarchs that had sat on the throne. Much more was the joy when His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde graciously performed his official coronation ceremony on Tuesday, 19th December, 2023. Till today, excitement still fills the airs as he has not disappointed. The confidence reposed in him he has effortlessly helped to sustain since surpassing expectations is all what he has done all his life.
In his one year of installation, which anniversary is today, His Majesty has inspired hope embodied in his vision to create an Ogbomosoland that will be described as a smart and model city. This goal he has enunciated several times in different fora at different opportunities. His goal-setting ability is as good as his organizing acumen and methodology and precision in execution. He has been proving his mettle showing that his remarkable successes in the trenches of entrepreneurship and shepherding the flock in the House of God are no fluke. Let me summarize his one year on the throne: he succeeded in communicating and sharing his 25-year development plan with the Ogbomoso sons and daughters both home and diaspora; and has successfully inaugurated ten different crack working committees to drive the development plan to success, these committees are agriculture, infrastructure and road, hospitality and tourism, commence and industry, job creation and empowerment, education, healthcare, cultural tourism, security and IT & artificial intelligence. To boot the maiden Ogbomoso Cradles Festival is scheduled to hold in December to showcase lavishly the rich culture and tradition of Ogbomosoland and foster unity, and is also aimed at boosting the tourism potentials of Ogbomoso zone and bolstering its economy and prosperity. Enthusiasm about the festival soars everyday as the occasion approaches, the first of its kind in the modern annals of Ogbomoso as it will be a fusion of different iconic festivals and unveiling of various tourism potentialities in the belly of the zone.
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The people’s Oba, his coronation was accompanied by a #150m empowerment programme, followed shortly after by the donation of state-of-the art medical equipment by philanthropists who share his vision and ideal of turning Ogbomoso into a medical hub globally. Furthermore, since coming he has been rebuilding the Ogbomoso Palace at Oja’gbo with massive renovations to give it a touch of modernity thereby deepening its tourism potentials. He is also making his impact felt in restoration of pipe-borne water in the city by collaborating with the Oyo State Government with the support of some individuals in the community to actualize this, the rehabilitation is currently nearing completion as unforeseen problems have been dogging the execution but I can assure that the project will see the light of the day in view of Kabiyesi’s commitment. In similar manner, he is making frantic efforts to facilitate the completion of the 132KV power substation in Ogbomoso to boost energy supply for enhance business activities and is not relenting in getting the Ogbomoso – Oyo section of the new Ibadan – Ilorin Highway done with. He is so much concerned about the welfare of his people and how to change the narrative. Like the Bible says, “Knock and it shall be opened, ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find,” he is doing all these committing personal resources and with prayer his dream shall surely be realized in no time.
Some other accomplishments of Oba Ghandi in the last one year are working with the Ogbomoso North Local Government to effect the relocation of butchers and traders to the new Ultra-Modern Market at LAUTECH Area (WAZOBIA Market), and equally supported the butchers to build shops and stalls and also donated a generator for smooth running of the abattoir section. Presently, he is collaborating with Ogbomoso North Local Government to resuscitate the council’s long grounded grader and excavator. Aside, he continues to be an effective and efficient mediator, he has intervened in a lot of civil matters and is leveraging on his influence to network for Ogbomoso as a community. The indefatigable Oba recently completed a two-month visit to Ogbomoso sons and daughters in the United Kingdom and North America during which he unveiled his development vision and emphasized how the people in the diaspora could key in, his message was received with a willing heart and enthusiasm proud that their home city is blessed with a forward-looking Oba. I am happy to declare that the efforts have started yielding dividends, these will become evident in the coming months.
Oba Ghandi is desirous of peace and unity and that is why he has been making strenuous efforts to take the lead in bringing traditional rulers and chiefs in the zone together believing that in unity lies strength. On more than one occasion a conference of Obas in Ogbomoso zone has held in his Palace. He is not a religious bigot, he not only assured of religious fairness, he is living it, not seeking to favour any religious faith over others. The Oba is a man of peace who believes in the maxims, live and let others live, and the sky is wide enough for everyone to fly. He has been beaming the light he promised on ascension on September 8, 2023.
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His Imperial Majesty is not a perfect being but he is a man borne by sincerity of purpose, a man of vision and mission; he is a man of progress and development like Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Atanda Owodunni, recently noted – “Our Oba is not a religious bigot but if you call him a progress and development bigot I will not contest that.” That sums up His Majesty’s personae. He is born to overcome challenges and I pray that all nettlesome challenges he shall overcome in Jesus name.
He has chosen to mark the one year anniversary without fanfare, but out of his desire to uplift the youths in Ogbomosoland he endorses a football competition put together by the Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum (OCYF) – Orumogege Football Competition, kicking off today, Sunday, 8th September, 2024. The competition is to promote grassroots football in Ogbomosoland. 32 teams are to take part, it promises to be exciting and fruitful.
May he bequeath legacies as gargantuan as his fathers’. Greatest so far shall his reign be in Jesus name! I mean achievements his successors will find challenging to surpass! Amen.
