Home Special Report Soun’s Town Hall Meeting Rejected By Iresaadu Community, Gives Reasons

Soun’s Town Hall Meeting Rejected By Iresaadu Community, Gives Reasons

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Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III
Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III

Iresaadu, an ancient community near Ogbomoso, has rejected a scheduled town hall meeting in the community by the Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Ghandi Olaoye.

The community, in a statement by a prince of the town Adeyanju Adebayo, disclosed that Oba Olaoye scheduled a town hall meeting for Iresaadu High School on Thursday July 3 without any formal communication with either the traditional ruler or the people of Iresaadu.

The statement objected to the plan, saying the Ogbomoso paramount ruler was over-stepping his bounds with such move.

It pointed out that Iresaadu is an ancient town with the oba wearing beaded crown for centuries. It affirmed that the town is not in Soun’s kingdom, stressing that the Soun is not in a position to have such a meeting.

The statement read in part: “The royal families, indigenes and residents of Iresaadu town reject Oba Ghandi Olaoye The Soun of Ogbomoso’s  town hall meeting  scheduled to hold at Iresaadu High School on Thursday 3rd July, 2025.

“The Iresaadu indigenes are people of  honour with great respect for the tradition of their land and, as such, would not be comfortable if any, no matter how highly placed, tries to  disrespect and at the same time disregard the culture and tradition  of the community and people.

“It has come to our knowledge that  without  prior official notification through an official means of communication to the elders and kingmakers  of the community that Oba Ghandi Olaoye  the Soun of Ogbomoso, has slated a town hall meeting for the 3rd July 2025 at lresaadu High School.

“It was a shock and great surprise to the community  as we got the  information through a flyer circulating on WhatsApp that Oba Ghandi Olaoye is coming for a town hall meeting in respect of his “25  Years Developmental Vision for Ogbomoso Land” at  Iresaadu town which is the headquarters of Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“We find such proposed town hall meeting in our town – Iresaadu -as an embarrassment, disrespectful and alien  to our culture and  traditions of lresaadu people capable of  breaching the existing peace and tranquility of the community. This is also to be likened to Oba Ghandi’s over stepping his authority.

Permit me to state  further reasons likened to Oba Ghandi Olaoye over-stepping his bounds with these historical facts thus

“One, historically Iresaadu is an ancient town and the kingship tittle Aresaadu of Iresaadu Kingdom is an ancient beaded monarch and it has been in existence since the 9th Century. This confirmed that the monarch is not like any former chief ( Baale) that was elevated to the kingship level (throne) by favoritism or government considerations.

“Two, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same local government. Soun is a King in Ogbomoso North Local Government only,  while Iresaadu is the headquarters of Surulere Local Government.

“Three, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same state constituency.  Iresaadu is under Surulere/Ogooluwa State Constituency while Ogbomoso is under Ogbomoso North State Constituency.

“Four,  Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same federal constituency.  Iresaadu is under Surulere/Ogooluwa Federal constituency and Ogbomoso North is under Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire Federal constituency.

“Five, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso North are not in the same senatorial district. Iresaadu is under Oyo Central Senatorial district while Ogbomoso North is under Oyo North Senatorial district.

“Based on the above facts and  reasons, we are advising Oba Ghandi Olaoye  to cancel his proposed town hall meeting in Irasaadu land, and as well limit his  developmental vision  within Ogbomoso North Local Government, his area of influence.

“We are, therefore, using this medium to call the attention of Oyo State Government and Oyo State House of Assembly on the issue of the appellation “Ogbomoso Zone.” We want to believe that this is  what is giving  Oba Ghandi Olaoye the  leverage to act in a manner that the  zone that is  named “Ogbomoso Zone” is under his jurisdiction, authority, and influence.  The zone’s name urgently needs to be changed to the one of a popular river that  cuts across the five local governments of the zone called Oba river.

“The need to change Ogbomoso Zone to Oba Zone or Oke-Oba has  now become   imperative and very necessary  more than ever. Issues like this are quite  similar to some  other zones in Oyo state e.g Ibarapa Zone and Oke Ogun Zone.

We have seven zones in Oyo State namely Ibarapa, Ibadan Inner City, Ibadan Outer City, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun zone 1 and Oke Ogun zone 2.

Oke Ogun as an example. If anyone says he/she  travels  to Oke Ogun, the first question that will arise is ‘which town in Oke-ogun,’ since it isa common knowledge that  we have many towns that made up  Oke ogun?  if anyone is going to Ibarapa one will be asked,  ‘which town in Ibarapa?’ But when it comes to  Ogbomoso Zone, hardly do people know that there are many  towns that make up the zone.

“We sincerely appeal that the  appellation “Ogbomoso Zone” be  changed now for clarity purposes.

“It is worthy to note that there are differences between Ogbomoso Zone and Ogbomoso town.

The name Ogbomoso zone is  comprised of five local Governments but Ogbomoso town is just one local government which is Ogbomoso North Local Government.

“In order to  maintain the prevalent peace in the community and as well stop the Soun of Ogbomoso from parading as well as seeing himself as a zonal king, this change has become inevitable.

We believe that  Oba Ghandi Olaoye, being a former Pastor, will  allow peace to reign by canceling the scheduled meeting and as well limit his monarchical influence and authority to his designated area.

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pmparrot

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