Soun Of Ogbomoso Race: Oversee Selection Process – Group tells Makinde

A group under the aegis of Ajilete Renaissance Group, ARG, have raised concerns about the selection process for the next Soun of Ogbomoso land, accusing the kingmakers and the officials of Ogbomoso North Local Government of collecting a humongous amount of money from one of the Princes, Pastor Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye because of his rumored closeness to the Vice President of the Country, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

The group wants the Oyo State Governor, ‘Oluseyi Makinde to intervene as he did in Ibadan over Olubadan’s ascendancy.

The group published this in a statement issued and signed by its Secretary, Mr. Majolagbe Oyedepo, adding that they would not continue to look on at attempts to subjugate and sacrifice culture and traditions of the land, as well as uprightness at the altar of monetary gains and inducement.

Meanwhile, the group has hinted that the Association is not against any particular candidate or canvassing for anyone, but that its main concern is for the selection process to be just, thorough, and devoid of what they termed “hanky-panky”, corruption, favouritism, undue interference, and influence.

According to the group, they alleged that Prince Ghandi who is a Redeemed Pastor based in Washington DC got included in the list of the invitees after money had exchanged hands, adding that he had earlier gone to the media to announce his selection as the next Soun at a time he was not among the initial eleven contenders selected by the ruling family.

The statement partly reads;

“It is sad that the selection process is taking this questionable and ignominious dimension.

The kingmakers and the Local Government officials are using this opportunity to enrich themselves and their plan is to announce the next Soun against the wishes of the teeming population of Ogbomoso sons and daughters.

“There is another rumor making the rounds that the said Prince also bought a brand new car for the arrowhead of the Ogbomoso Kingmakers. How true this claim is we can not say. But we are convinced beyond the least shadow of a doubt that the fresh screening conducted for all the twenty-five aspirants by the Kingmakers and the Local Government officials when some of them were already out of the race was a confirmation that they were up to something and they were acting the script of some paid agents.”

ARG also expressed fear over the possible breakdown of law and order in the ancient town of Ogbomoso if the Kingmakers go ahead with their infamous plan to circumvent and thwart the process which started on a good note.

” As an association of responsible indigenes of Ogbomosoland, we will not fold our hands and allow this monumental daylight robbery and fraud to stand. We want the whole process to stop now and be reviewed.

The Oyo State Governor, Engr Oluseyi Makinde must intervene as done in the Olubadan issue. Our elders because of money are inviting the wrath of the ancestors. They are turning our tradition into a money-making venture. They want to set the whole town on fire. We are calling for full investigations into all these allegations and we want the state Governor to punish anyone found culpable of attempts to subjugate and sacrifice culture and traditions as well as uprightness at the altar of monetary gains and inducement”, the statement added.