FROM THE ARCHIVE: Guess who these historical figures are? Here are their stories!
Femi OGUNLANA
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They are His Imperial Majesty Oba Emmanuel Olajide Olayode II (right), the Soun of Ogbomosoland (1966 – 1969) and Prince Oladunni Olaoye, father of the present Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
The photograph taken on July 22, 1966, depicted the camaraderie between the two patriots, important personalities of Ogbomoso origin. Prince Oladunni Olaoye who contested the stool of Soun in 1940 but lost due to the extant law of appointment of only direct son of a past Soun, is seen here engaged in a discussion with Oba Olajide Olayode, who is recorded to be the first educated monarch of Ogbomoso.
Prince Olaoye (left) and Oba Olayode
An educated figure, Prince Oladunni Olaoye, whose father was Prince Oladayo Olaoye (a son of Baale Olaoye Orumogege I) was a wealthy man who had wide connections and was supported by the town’s elite of the time to emerge the traditional ruler. But he was a grandson and not a direct son of a former Soun (Olaoye Orumogege I)! This eroded his eligibility.
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Oba Emmanuel Olajide Olayode, a direct son of Baale Atanda Adegoke Olayode, was an environment health officer and a forester, who got the seat ahead of several other contestants. He recorded several landmark achievements during his reign but fell gallantly to the swords of conspirators under the guise he increased tax rate, something in the purview of the (regional) government. It was the military administration at the time that jacked up the amount paid as tax but Soun Layode was caught in the web as Oba – he couldn’t turn his back in recalcitrance against government refusing to support the move and his subjects ignorantly saw him as the architect of their travail. This presented a debacle, and became an opening for his “enemies.” The palace was attacked during a tax riot on July 1, 1969, during which he was hacked down. However, many people were arrested and tried, leading to the hanging of some.
As fate would have it, Prince Oladunni Olaoye and the scion of late Oba Olajide Olayode, Prince Stephen Ilufoye Layode JP, M. Ed, a retired school principal, and who is current Mogaji of Odunaro ruling house, also became close.
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Prince Oladunni Olaoye meanwhile died in 2004. 19 years after his transition his son emerged the Soun of Ogbomosoland as Orumogege III. Earlier in 2019, Prince Stephen Ilufoye Olayode was installed the Mogaji of Odunaro ruling house.
Such is life!
