Soun: What a way to begin 2026!

Soun: What a way to begin 2026!

Ben GEORGE

For Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III the Soun of Ogbomosoland the march to transform his domain continues. To the best of his ability (he is even surpassing human’s ability), he made giant strides towards this in 2025 recording inauguration of landmark projects and programmes, many which are unprecedented. The monarch is definitely veering off norms, redefining Obaship in a most spectacular way all geared towards reshaping his kingdom. Ogbomoso has always been great but he is determined to make it greater and is forging this through uncommon vision. He is quintessentially living a theory enunciated by the chairman of the 2nd edition of Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival, Chief Olusegun Odebunmi, during an interview recently, in which he noted that a community that is not a state capital and which thus lacks much of government presence has the responsibility of looking inward, harnessing its resources particularly human resources, to turn things around, albeit, that is if its people are desirous of development. Oba Ghandi’s 25th Year Development Plan demonstrates his unwavering resolve to transform his domain, and commendably, he is translating this into reality, driving the hand of the clock and forcing the pendulum of growth.

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The zeal has been transported into the new year 2026. The Oba arrived from a short vacation Tuesday, December 6, and second day, Wednesday, December 7, he was on the road to commission a project he personally facilitated – a police post at Abepe area of the city. The edifice was constructed by a couple Dr. and Dr (Mrs.) Olufemi Olawale, based in Maryland USA, in memory of their patriarch Pa Misiu Atanda Olawale who died in 2008.

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This no doubt foreshadows the nature of things to come in 2026, which is certain to activate a great leap towards the vision to recreate Ogbomoso a model city, a destination of choice.

ogbomosoinsightonline.com has also stumbled on another legacy project, which is the 350-computer/CBT Centre the Oba facilitated for the Government Technical College (GTC), Ogbomoso. It is being undertaken by a private individual, that tells much of the drive of the Oba. The site was visited and workmen have been busy since Monday January 5, reshaping the building into a CBT-compliant centre. That is a good development for the community; at the threshold of migration to CBT exam model in the country, having a 350-CBT centre at this period is a welcome development. Recall the Oba also supported the inauguration of the Zoe Schools’s 650-capacity CBT Centre in 2025. With this one he directly facilitated the prognosis is good for the zone. The GTC CBT centre, in his words will “serve as a hub for training and empowering the youth with critical digital and technological skills for the future.”

2026 is also envisaged will see the completion and commissioning of projects like the Funpark at Isale-General; the new malls at Araada Market; the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ayanyan Cattle Market, Pakiotan area; Oja’gbo re-modelled market stalls; and water projects including commissioning of boreholes. Also, we hope to see commencement of the construction of a new Civic Centre to complement Ogunlola Hall; permanent Cradles ground; games village; academic activities at the National Academy of Cultural Studies (NACUS), Ogbomoso centre; and many others. From the Oyo state government, we hope to see the promised rehabilitation of inner roads in the city begun and completed in record time and of best quality, just as we hope to see the completion of work on the Ogbomoso – Oyo section of the new Ibadan – Ilorin highway.

Ogbomoso is on the threshold of a great transformation, it is an epoch-making moment. All hands must be on the deck, Ogbomosoland needs great input from all, thus other interests are challenged to initiate similar developmental projects in the spirit of healthy competition. I think the zone will benefit better from this mindset than some unhealthy rivalries and sabotage, that are restraining the hand of the clock. After all, nobody is actually good, and nobody is bad, we all have to manage one another, understanding the weaknesses of each other at least those not extremely unacceptable.