‘We don’t indulge in drinking before talking, let this be your last,’ Soun-in-Council warns Olugbon

Khalid ABRAHAM

The Soun cabinet chiefs who with the Soun constitute the Soun-in-Council have issued a strong warning to the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Oba Francis Olusola Alao, saying his latest outburst against the Soun Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III must be his last if he doesn’t want “war.”

Recall Oba Alao in a recent video that went viral while reacting to a response by the three chiefs Oniyeye, Alaga and one other over his announcement of their removal, made remarks considered derogatory against the stool of Soun, against the Soun in person and against Ogbomoso community, frowned at by many indigenes. The three chiefs had accused him of selling their lands and demolishing houses in their domains.

Uncomfortable with the claims of Olugbon especially his addressing the Soun by his first name, the Soun-in-Council in a video, has come out furiously to checkmate the Igbon monarch.

The four Ilus who included the Areago (High Chief Sobaloje Otolorin), Ikolaba (High Chief Adeniran Ojo), Abese (High Chief Kasali Oladipo) and Iyalode (High Chief Oluwakemi Ogundare), stated, “That Olugbon’s remark is vexatious though we understand such is the character of the people who assume a chieftaincy they are not entitled to – they make false narrations about histories of the chieftaincies they are eyeing, they will spout anyhow histories.”

They contended, “All what Olugbon was saying is false, it is fabricated just to gain relevance because of his atrocities, including land grabbing, deposition of chiefs without possessing such authorities and so on.”

From left: Iyalode, Abese, Areago and Ikolaba

The Ilu chiefs asserted the Soun is vested with consenting authority over chieftaincies in Ogbomosoland. “We are affirming it that Soun has consenting authority over all Obas and chiefs in this zone. It is confirmed in the Ojedele Commission of Inquiry of 1978. It states, ‘Soun of Ogbomoso is the consenting authority to all Obas in this area’ including Olugbon. And in paragraph four, it puts us (that is, other members of the Soun-in-Council) in the same rank with Olugbon and others. So, we don’t know where he got his histories, they are mere rhetoric.”

They fumed over Oba Alao addressing the Soun by his first name – Ghandi. “So, how dare him to call Soun by name? Are they mates? It is instructive, Ogbomoso must not remain quiet, we chiefs are not going to remain silent. We can’t call our father by name; we vehemently oppose that. He has forgotten that about thirty years ago, Soun signed the papers for the enthronement of his predecessor (Olugbon Osunbade). So, who is he? If he is being goaded by anyone to misbehave to Soun and Ogbomoso they will all fail together. He should be careful, such arrogance is beyond him and will not be tolerated any longer.”

The Ilus further stressed that the powers arrogated by Soun is granted by the Oyo state government, maintaining that the title of Soun had been changed to Soun of Ogbomosoland as far back as 1993 and appropriately put in a gazette.

“And if you consider the power of the Soun, it is contained in a gazette. See the gazette (they show it) – the gazette stipulates it as ‘Soun of Ogbomosoland’ and it covers the five local governments in Ogbomoso zone. And another gazette ranks Soun as paramount with the designation, ‘His Imperial Majesty,’ while we (the Ilus) are part two alongside Olugbon, Onpetu, Onikoyi and Aresa; we are in the same rank (display that gazette as well) with them.”

They now challenged those who may have contrary opinions or claim otherwise, to present (verifiable) evidences.

“Let the others show their evidences too. They only talk without backing such with evidences. They fabricate lies to give impression of importance and eminence, it is regrettable, Olugbon is overvaluing himself. If he is being manipulated, they will all be exposed soon. That is why we tell him to tread softly. He dares not insult or cast aspersion on Soun or the throne of Soun again.

“Furthermore, the Ojedele Commisision of Inquiry states unambiguously, ‘The Soun shall be recognized as leader of all traditional rulers in all Ogbomosoland including the five local governments because at that time it was only Ogbomoso Local Government’ (which covers the five local government areas today). And it adds that Soun shall be the consenting authority to the appointment of Aresadu, Alajawa, Olugbon and Onpetu. It is there, stated in black and white. It also states the Ogbomoso traditional council shall be enlarged to include the four leading Obas – Aresa, Alajawa, Olugbon and Onpetu as well as the senior chiefs of Ogbomoso, which we are.”

They disclosed Olugbon is aware of all this while firing that henceforth such insult against the Soun will not be condone. They made it known that they held back in the past in order not to offend the “genuine Olugbon families.”

“He knows, but because of the nefarious activities he indulges in, he pretends not to know. However, henceforth we won’t take that from him. What is he size of Igbon that he is making bogus claims. Isn’t there Olugbon compound at Okelerin? Who is he? Where is he coming from? Why must he coddle lying? What land does he own? There is also a Supreme Court judgment, which Soun won putting the whole area of Ogbomosoland under his hegemony, yet, he never drove anybody away and he never sold any land saying he won at the Supreme Court. Who is he (Oba Alao) to be pulling people’s houses down or selling lands?”

They meanwhile emphasized that they were not making the remarks after being inebriated, maintaining they always hold back from attacking the genuine royals.

“All what we are saying does not come after being drunk, our heads are clear. We don’t normally want to attack the Olugbon royal family, but we have a fake now. When the immediate past Olugbon (Osunbade) was installed by the Soun I was already a chief (Areago), I was on seat at the ceremony here, February 4, 1992, that was the date Baba Soun applied his consenting authority for his enthronement. And on July 24, 1992, when he made appreciation announcement, he started by saying the ‘Soun of Ogbomosoland,’ this is the evidence. When he wanted to go out that day, Onpetu and others stood up, I remained seated, and wondering who dared to do that though not knowing I was one, he bellowed, ‘who is that not standing?’ and they told him it was Areago, he only retorted, ‘No wonder.’

“So, the present Olugbon should seek for authentic history. It was Areago Akinfenwa that brought Olugbon to Soun after war had laid his town desolate, so also Onpetu. Wasn’t their original home Igbon Saakin? We never wanted to state all this because of the original Olugbons, who are noble. But when someone is occupying a stool wrongly, he tends to indulge himself in ignoble deeds. How dare he calls Soun ‘Ghandi!’ Go and look at Johnson History of Yorubas and see the portion where it says, any refuge Oba that runs to seek protection under a Baale that Baale has automatically become his head.

“And then they went to court against Soun on the matter of Ogbomosoland, they lost woefully. It is here in the Tribune of 13 July 2001, it says boldly, “Soun is Supreme – Appeal Court.” But because there are good Igbon people we have always held back but now he has driven us to the wall and we will be talking now. If you demolish people’s houses and they are taking it up against you, what concerns Soun in it? Who will you now transfer aggression to? Why must you be selling people’s lands without obtaining court order? Only the court has such power. What is the concern of Soun in that? Though he is succeeding in these misdeeds against his Baales because he often threatens them, claiming he just held a meeting with President (Tinubu), that is why those ones are afraid of him.

“What land did Osunbade sell? Just because you wear the crown you feel you can just sell lands? Yet, we know your origin, we know your father’s house and we know your mother’s house. What is his relationship with the Olugbons? It is mere poke-nosing. But henceforth, we will tackle him. It is enough, let him be warned. The immediate past Olugbon used to serve Soun food before he was installed, it is part of why he was considered. We have enough evidence, so, whatever he will say let him back it with evidence. And if he doesn’t know history let him go to the original Olugbon royals before he starts to spout nonsense. We don’t drink before we start talking. How many Olugbons have reigned here (in Ogbomoso)? Then, compared it to the number of Souns that had reigned. How can he now say he owns the land, nonsense!”