By Samuel Solomon
The Forum of Obas and Chiefs in Ogbomoso zone, comprising the five local governments of Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oriire, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa, has thrown its weight behind the reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, hailing the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for making the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, a co-chairman of the reconstituted council. The Obas also expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of Aale of Okelerin, Oba Samuel Babatunde Amao, as a permanent member of the council.
Addressing pressmen after a meeting of the forum at the Palace of the Soun Thursday, the conference of Oba’s spokesman, the Alapa of Okin-Apa, Oba Professor John Akinola Akintola, further urged the Oyo state government to also consider other prominent royal fathers from the Ogbomoso zone for inclusion.
During the meeting attended by close to 25 Obas drawn from across 5LGAS in ogbomosoland. a central theme.
They unanimously consented to the leadership of Soun. “His Imperial Majesty Oba Olaoye is our leader,” it was stated, as they emphasized that one of the primary purposes of the meeting was to reaffirm that “the Obas are united as one behind the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye.”
Security of life and property was discussed extensively. Oba Akintola reassured the people that the Obas are taking decisive steps to tackle insecurity in the zone, noting, however, that the details and strategies adopted would not be made public. He further stated that they would be collaborating with both conventional and non-conventional security agencies to strengthen security across Ogbomosoland.
Furthermore, development matters were also discussed, with a specific focus on making Ogbomoso friendly to investors. To facilitate this, the monarchs touched on land reforms, including a commitment to not selling land to multiple people to avoid communal and legal disputes.
The Obas also praised Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye for his developmental initiatives, praying that the monarch’s 25-year development plan will come to fruition. Oba Akintola declared, “We have already started to see the manifestations of his programmes and efforts, Ogbomoso is already being transformed.
I want to assure us that developments will spread and won’t be concentrated in a place, and location of projects will be channeled through local governments, we are bound to see quantum developments,” while noting they similarly encouraged one another to lead by example, especially by demonstrating strong and responsible leadership as the state approaches the 2027 general elections.
Among the Obas and Chiefs in attendance were the Soun, Oba Laoye; Aale of Okelerin, Oba Amao; Oranmiyan of Okoland, Oba Solomon Akinola; Alajaawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji; Oloolo of Oolo, Oba Michael Ajayi Oyebunmi; Onisapa of Isapa Kingdom, Oba Ezekiel Bolarinwa Olajide; Olopete of Opete, Oba Samuel Bamigboye; Alapa of Okin-apa, Oba Professor Akintola; Onijabata of Jabata, Oba Mustapha Alabi Fadipe; Areago of Ogbomosoland, High Chief Sobolaje Otolorin; Ikolaba of Ogbomosoland, High Chief David Ojo; and Iyalode of Ogbomosoland; High Chief Rebecca Ogundare.
