Mixed reactions have continued to trail the selection of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso land.
Ogbomoso is the second largest city in Oyo State and has five local government areas.
The stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi who joined his ancestors on Sunday, 12th December, 2021.
Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday announced the approval of Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.
Makinde made the announcement through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola.
The Governor, in the statement made available to newsmen, appealed to the indigenes of the city to work with the monarch to consolidate the successes of his forefathers.
“His Excellency congratulates the new Soun-elect on his ascension to the throne of his forebears,” he said in the statement.
SAHEL, however, gathered that mixed reactions have trailed the selection of the new monarch-elect.
While some people in the town described the selection as a good development, others are of the opinion that the selection was not properly done.
Those who spoke against the selection called on the governor to rescind the decision.
Some of those who spoke from the Olaoye family noted that they were not in support of the selection. They condemned the selection of Prince Afolabi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.
A member of the Olaoye family, Prince Lateef Olaoye told DAILY POST on Monday that the entire Olaoye family have rejected the selection.
Prince Lateef Olaoye said that the family had closed the form collection before Prince Afolabi Olaoye joined the race.
He added that a case filed by those who are against the selection is still pending in the court.
He said, “The whole family did not support his selection. There are some people who have gone to court on this matter. One of them is Prince Kabir Olaoye.
“The whole family did not want him. We closed the form collection before he came. It is a kangaroo selection, some people forced the governor to approve it.”
The Secretary of the Olaoye family, Prince Saka Olaoye, who also spoke with newsmen on Monday, maintained that the kingmakers did not follow the normal procedures.
He added that the family had written a letter to the Governor to kick against the selection.
“They jumped the protocol. We have written a letter to the Governor. They did not follow the normal process,” he stated.
But, the Mogaji of Olaoye family, Mr. Amos Olaoye in his reaction, noted that the Governor has done the right thing.
He urged the aggrieved members to exercise patience and support the new Soun-elect.
The Mogaji told newsmen that, “The Governor has done the right thing. The people of Ogbomoso appreciate him for this.
“People will look at it from different angles. Out of the 25 people that contested, one person will be picked.
“The Governor said that he has picked one person, those who are against it should calm down. We are the same family.
“I will use this medium to appeal to them to please calm down. You know people will see it from different angles. If the people who are angry are the ones picked, will they kick against it?”
Similarly, a former Secretary of Ogbomoso Parapo, Mr. Amos Ajekigbe in his reaction noted that the kingmakers did the right thing.
Ajekigbe, who spoke during a telephone conversation with newsmen on Monday, noted that all the groups and associations in the town are in support of the selection.
“I am in support of the selection. The head of kingmakers called the family to present candidates, they decided and picked one of them.
“The kingmakers voted and picked Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye. Ogbomoso Parapo, Ogbomoso Consultative Council and other associations and clubs are in support of the selection. The Muslims are in support and Christians are also in support of the selection,” he declared.
