Still on Doyin Odebowale’s verbal diarrhea on Ogbomoso
Ifakunle AKANNI
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A recent video featuring Dr. Doyin Odebowale—a lawyer, lecturer, and former Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategies to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has sparked outrage, particularly among the people of Ogbomoso. In the video, Odebowale emphatically claimed that “there is no king in Ogbomoso,” a statement that many consider not only reckless but also insulting to the revered monarch and the town as a whole.
It is disappointing that a supposedly enlightened and educated personality like Dr. Odebowale would engage in such reckless rhetoric, seemingly just to attract attention or stir controversy—something he has become known for. Rather than responding to his statement with insults, however, it is more productive to educate him and those who share his misguided views about the historical and cultural significance of Ogbomoso’s monarchy.
For the record, Ogbomoso has a king. The town has been ruled by monarchs for centuries, and the current ruler is Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III. His ascension to the throne followed a transparent and widely accepted process. If Dr. Odebowale had done his research, he would have discovered that the official presentation of the staff of office took place just a day after the thanksgiving service where Pastor Enoch Adeboye anointed him at the altar.
One wonders why Odebowale feels the need to take “paracetamol for another man’s headache.” His criticism of the king’s anointing by a clergy member—whom he dismissively referred to as “Okunrin ara Ijesha yen to wa ni express”—is both disrespectful and baseless. The anointing does not diminish the king’s authority, nor does it reduce him to a “street and happening monarch” like some king.
Odebowale’s argument that the monarch should not have been anointed in public ignores the fact that Oba Olaoye was a pastor before becoming king. Since ascending the throne, he has actively engaged with all three major religions in Ogbomoso. In fact, he recently installed the Araba, the head of traditional religion in Ogbomosoland, and championed an event that promotes the town’s rich culture and traditions.
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Odebowale’s claim that the title of Soun of Ogbomoso was merely elevated by General David Jemibewon to that of a high chief under Oyo is both delusional and historically inaccurate. This is yet another attempt by Odebowale and his ilk to manipulate history and undermine the status of the Soun.
Yes, the Soun of Ogbomoso was officially elevated to the status of a first-class monarch in 1976 during the military administration of General David Jemibewon, who was then the Military Governor of the old Oyo State.
However, the status of the Soun had been evolving for decades before this official recognition. The transition from Baale (village head) to Oba (king) began much earlier, with Oba Olatunji Alao Elepo II (1952–1966) being the first Soun to wear a crown. By the time of Jemibewon’s formal recognition in 1976, Ogbomoso had already grown significantly in status and influence, making the elevation long overdue.
This historical fact alone invalidates Odebowale’s misguided assertions.
Dr. Odebowale’s comments on Ogbomoso and its revered monarch reflect a deep-seated ignorance of historical and cultural realities. Rather than engage in baseless attacks, he would do well to educate himself on the evolution of Yoruba traditional institutions. Ogbomoso has a king, and his reign is rooted in history, tradition, and the will of the people.
Those who seek to erase or diminish the significance of the Soun of Ogbomoso should be reminded that history is not written by mere opinions but by facts—facts that stand the test of time.
Akanni sends this piece from Ogbomoso
