The Mogajis of the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso have hit hard at the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Oba Francis Olusola Alao Akinbola l.
Recall the Olugbon Oba Alao condemned the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill 2025 recently passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly dismissing it as a “flawed political document.”
He consequently suggested it should be suspended to allow for broader consultations.
Olugbon also addressed recent claims by Ogbomoso’s Mogajis regarding the historical significance of their town, noting that if history were to be the main criterion for leadership within the Council, his own throne would have seniority over that of the Soun.
He pointed out that the current Soun’s palace sits on land that was historically part of the Olugbon’s domain.
He also highlighted the ancient heritage of Orile-Igbon and neighbouring Ijeru, insisting the two which shared borders in the past should have been ahead of the Soun. He as well noted that neither Ogbomoso nor Ibadan established any kingdom compared to Oyo which had an empire with sub-kingdoms.
“Where is Soun’s kingdom? Where is Olubadan’s kingdom?” He had queried. “Alaafin ran a huge kingdom with many other kingdoms under it. But we are putting the past behind us because the world is dynamic. Yet the honour must be there for the thrones that deserve it.”
These claims have expectedly touched raw nerves in the Mogajis of the Soun Ruling Houses who have fired back with scathing rebukes.
In a statement signed by the five Mogajis (family heads), Princes Olawuyi Itabiyi (Aburumaku), Sikiru Oyeyiola (Gbagun), Olawale Olaoye (Laoye), Oyebamiji Oyedeji (Bolanta) and Ilufoye Layode (Odunaro), and made available to newsmen, Oba Alao was dismissed as delusional.
They noted that they would not have responded to his outbursts but that the need to ‘put him in his place guided our decision.”
They now implored him to embrace reality and stop pursuing shadow pointing out the Soun had surpassed him.
The Mogajis also stressed they had no issues with the “authentic Olugbon dynasty” and has no desire to have spat with them but that Oba Alao have continued to be provocative.
They noted, “We were again treated to a circus show by the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Oba Francis Olusola Alao sequel to the passing of the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill 2025 by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
“His outbursts are so ridiculous and his postulations and reasoning lack depth. It’s at best a contradictory statement neither here nor there. We wouldn’t have responded to his jaundiced statement but there is the need to put him in his rightful place.
“He queried where is Ogbomoso Kingdom. The Igbon he claims to rule over is part of the Ogbomoso Kingdom he wants to know. Has he forgotten how Ogbomoso provided refugee to thousands of displaced people including Igbon during the inter- and intra- tribal wars of the 1800s?
“Do we need to spell it out to him that that action swelled the population of the existing Ogbomoso Kingdom and is today part of the reasons Ogbomoso is ahead, making it to surpass the likes of Olugbon. Kingdoms rise and fall Oyo Empire in spite of its wide extent fell and the so-called Igbon Kingdom he alluded to fell coming under the suzerainty of Ogbomoso. Their original home Igbon Saakin is known to be in the present Idofian in Kwara State. Igbon Saakin is not the one in Ogbomoso. When Igbon was torn in the vicissitudes of life it was Olugbon Olugbode that led his people to Ogbomoso, and the Aale of Okelerin became their landlord. Another band of the displaced Igbon people went to Ejigbo, another to Lalupon area in Ibadan and another is between Ote and Eye -n- Korin in Kwara State.
“The present Orile-Igbon in Ogbomoso belongs to Orisafayo. That subjected him to the Soun as affirmed by Johnson in his History of the Yorubas. ‘But wherever the representative head of the family may be, he is completely subject to the ruler of the town, be he a Baale or a king. Thus the Olugbon at Ogbomoso is subject to the Baale of Ogbomoso…’ The History of the Yorubas notes.
“Soun has been serving as the consenting authority to the Olugbon chieftaincy. The immediate past Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR consented to the installation of the immediate past Olugbon Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade. It’s also on record that he himself sought the consent of Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III when he was to be installed. Has he forgotten the saying ‘Ode ba Olugbon o mu mora (Calamity befell Olugbon he endured it). That implies misfortune for Olugbon not unconnected with the fall of the kingdom. That brought them to Ogbomoso he so much wants to know its location.”
The Mogajis now warned him against venting his frustrations on Soun stool advising him rather to face the challenges confronting him.
“He doesn’t have the aura or charisma of an Oba, and that is why he is fouling the air with dusional outbursts.
“But we will not dwell on such. When the time comes, the truths will be revealed. He has failed to embrace the reality that the world has changed. There is a new order.”
