What art thou with Soun, Oba Olugbon?

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What art thou with Soun, Olugbon?

Ben GEORGE

It has been common with the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao to stir the hornet nest in this clime. It is either he is alleged of grabbing land and destruction of properties or he is enmeshed in running down the institution of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, presently occupied by Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.

Three Baales recently dismissed their removal by the Olugbon alleging the purported deposition was because they refused to cooperate with him on the sale of their ancestral lands.

But reacting, the Olugbon made counter-accusations however drifting to the issue of the Soun throne again, which puzzlingly he had dwelt on several times in the past. His grouse is the designation “Soun of Ogbomosoland.” His argument is always that he is Soun of Ogbomoso North local government,” always insisting that there is nothing like “Ogbomosoland.”

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However, some patriotic Ogbomoso indigenes strategically released a document by the Oyo state government – “Oyo State of Nigeria Gazette,” that supports the claim being challenged by Olugbon. The gazette containing change of title of the Soun was published on January 14, 1993. Titled, “Change of title of Traditional Ruler,” it reads, “It is hereby notified for general information that the Executive Council of Oyo State has approved the change in the name, the Soun of Ogbomoso to the Soun of Ogbomosoland with effect from 21^st day of October, 1992. DATED AT IBADAN THIS 11^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1993.” The document was signed by Chief (Dr) N.A.O. Raimi, Secretary to the State Government. It flaunts no ambiguity. This was during the governorship tenure of Chief Kolapo Ishola.

In another document – “Classification of Chieftaincies,” issued by the state government in November, 2005, signed by Mr. Ayodele Adigun, then Secretary to the State Government, three traditional rulers in the state were classified as “PARAMOUNT TRADITIONAL RULERS,” viz: Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadanland and Soun of Ogbomosoland. Others including the Olugbon were graded as either First Class or Second Class. All this alluded to the paramountcy of the Soun. Even recently, in 2025, the Oyo state government re-ratified the Soun as one of the Permanent Rotational Chairmen of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs in which Olugbon is Vice Chairman. Regardless of ancient histories with which some like to justify their claim, the present reality since about 200 years ago is that the Soun has gained in status, a position recognized by successive governments including the colonial government. Hence, the Soun is always placed ahead in this clime. Although, some Obas have always contended this but the primacy of the Soun in incontrovertible according to both the history that started to evolve 200 years ago, when Ogbomoso transformed into the bastion of defence against the forces that strove to overrun Yorubaland.

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The immediate past Soun Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP, CON, CFR, fought earnestly and resolutely for the earning of the title, “Soun of Ogbomosoland,” amid fierce contentions from Obas from the kingdoms with ancient crowns but he triumphed even at the Court of Law. It didn’t come on a platter but by staking his claim and pulling strings he got the government to ratify his leadership and supremacy. Indeed, according to a document, the proposal for the change of the title was actually endorsed at a meeting of the Ogbomoso Traditional Council in February 1984, (though not attended by some Obas and some stools vacant then). A unanimous resolution was passed , “…that the official title of the Sohun should be ‘Oba J.O. Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, JP, Soun of Ogbomoso Land.’ That the Permanent Secretary (Chieftaincy Matters) Military Governor’s Office, Ibadan should be informed of the decision for official gazette.”

When the approval finally came in 1993, it was however expressly declared by Governor Kolapo Ishola during a meeting with the other Obas in Ogbomoso zone that “the change does not confer on the Soun right over the lands, property and interest of the other Obas and their Chieftaincies which from time immemorial have been associated with them…” That is explicit.

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No matter the argument, what successive governments approved stands. It is “Soun of Ogbomosoland,” that is the simple fact. Though from what Governor Ishola assured, “The new position does not confer right over land on Soun,” but it is to reflect geographical coverage. An Oba at sometimes may need to represent the zone and the Soun is found suitable and most qualified based on a number of factors. The throne of the Soun has always stood like the Rock of Gibraltar, never surrendering to the unfortunate vicissitudes that befell and undermined many others. it is dependable, so, it is like that and it is like that, except it is re-fought by opponents and it is upturned by another government. No number of shenanigans can rub off the title, “Soun of Ogbomosoland.” So, there is no point heating up the polity from time to time. The people of Ogbomoso zone including many Obas have accepted the reality that they have all become the people of Ogbomoso and have taken up the identity – “Ogbomoso person.” For an Oba to try to change that will be an exercise in futility. Rather, each should focus on the development of his domain and whoever has wider vision should extend developmental initiatives and strides beyond. That is more productive than contention over title. A lot had happened in the past over chieftaincy disputes and primacy in this zone but the fact still remains that the Soun always returns the DECLARED LEADER. It is distractive and waste of efforts to dissipate energy challenging such today. It amounts to pushing negative narratives about oneself in the mind of the vast majority of the people, moreover, when the Souns have always stood for positive transformation.