Pastor turns monarch submits self for traditional rites

The Pastor of Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) Afolabi Olaoye on Friday submitted himself for traditional rites for his official installation as Soun of Ogbomoso which was performed at Abata by the kingmakers led by the Areago High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin.

Penpushing reports that the ceremony took place contrary to court order restraining such installation, but the kingmakers said they did not receive any court injunction; hence, he was proclaimed as His Imperial Majesty.

The Prince who was based in the United States of America (USA), arrived the ancient town early in the morning in a private chopper, which landed at Ogbomoso Grammar School, before moving to the palace.

Penpushing further reports that, it is recalled that some family members kicked against his choice, and went to court claiming he was not part of the process right from the beginning and that he shouldn’t be crowned against their wish.

The family in a suit number HOG/27/2022, in July 2022, cited various irregularities in the procedures that produced Olaoye thereby prayed the court to, among other reliefs, set aside the nomination and to order a fresh process.

Penpushing also reports that the defendants in the case include the Oyo State Governor, Oyo State Attorney General, Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council, and Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye (Mogaji Olaoye Ruling House) who are 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

The 7th to 11th defendants are the kingmakers: Chief S.O. Otolorin (Areago of Ogbomoso and Chairman), Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun), Chief Tijani Abioye (Bara), Cheif David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba) and Chief Yusuf Oladipupo (Abese) while Prince Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun nominee, is the 12th defendant.

Penpushing reports that the plaintiff, claimed that the regulations guiding the nomination to fill the vacant stool of Soun Chieftaincy Ogbomoso which include the Soun Chieftaincy Declaration (1958), Ogbomoso District Native Authority Resolution (1953) and Oyo State Chiefs Law (2000) were grossly violated, and  sought relief that the procedure for Olaoye’s nomination was inconclusive in that a minority committee performed the task instead of the whole members of the family.

“A declaration that the procedure adopted for the nomination of candidate or candidates to fill the vacant stool of Soun of Ogbomoso Chieftaincy by the members of Laoye Ruling House through the purported 11-member screening committee was inconclusive.

‘The member of the Olaoye ruling house as a family was denied their legal right of having a final say in voting and/or ratifying the aforesaid report at the time the kingmakers acted upon it, not strictly the method envisaged under the native law and custom, the Laoye ruling house as a body entitled to nominate a candidate for appointment to the stool of Soun and not by the minority of the members of the larger body.”

Penpushing further reports that the family member prayed the court to declare that the active participation of the 4th defendant (Ogbomoso North Local Government) in the process leading to the emergence of Olaoye rather than being a mere observer invalidates the process.

The claimant, therefore, sought orders of the court to set aside the nomination of the Pastor, noting the procedure that produces him contravenes native law and custom for the selection of a candidate for selection of a new Soun.

Penpushing also reports that in similar vein, the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th defendants represented by Kolawole Fatoye, Olalekan Oguntoye and O.E. Igene filed counter-claims to which the claimant also filed defence.

The legal team of 7th to 10th defendants which also represented the Pastor, urged the court to dismiss the claim and grant the counterclaim, noting that all the procedure as itemized above clearly showed that the 12th defendant was duly nominated by the Laoye ruling house and selected by the kingmakers.

Penpushing reports that it emphasized and claimed that the plaintiff filed this action because the selection did not favour him having participated along with others in the nomination and selection exercise.

The judge, Justice A.K. Adedokun, fixed the judgement day after Olaoye’s counsel, Oladapo Atanda, and Kolawole Fatoye, who represented the Pastor and the kingmakers adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit, and thereafter fixed October 3 for the judgement.

Penpushing further reports that Governor Seyi Makinde, however, on Saturday, September 2, 2023 in a statement by his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, approved the selection of Olaoye as the traditional ruler of the town.

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomosho  again on Thursday,  restrained the Governor, the Attorney General of the State and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters either by themselves, agents, or officials from presenting any instrument of office in any form of ceremony or issuance of the certificate of installation to Olaoye until the final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the royal stool of Soun of Ogbomoso became vacant after the ancient town traditional ruler Oba Jimoh Oyewumi transited to the great beyond, on December 12, 2021.

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