Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday issued a warning, stating that he would use the powers of his office if the various legal cases challenging the enthronement of the new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, were not withdrawn from the courts.
The legal dispute emerged when Prince Kabir Olaoye contested the selection process and emergence of Oba Olaoye as the new Soun, leading to a nullification of the initial selection process by an Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso on October 25.
Despite an appeal and a stay of execution order obtained by the Oyo State Government and the new Soun, Governor Makinde, during the presentation of the staff of office to Oba Olaoye, called for the withdrawal of all lawsuits challenging the monarch’s emergence.
He expressed concern over prolonged litigation, referencing a case in another community that lasted 20 years, resulting in the removal of a king from the throne.
Governor Makinde urged litigants to withdraw the cases, emphasizing that if they failed to do so, he would not hesitate to use the authority of his office.
He expressed the hope that the situation would not replicate the prolonged legal battle in another community, emphasizing that such outcomes were not beneficial to the people.
“By now, we should put behind us the issue of litigation. I hope before the end of next week, all the cases pending at various courts on the enthronement of Soun of Ogbomosoland will be withdrawn,
“However, if the litigants fail to heed the calls, I will not hesitate to use the instrument of office to fight back. I pray that the scenario that played out in one of the communities in this state when a suit lingered for 20 years and the king was subsequently removed from the throne will not happen in Ogbomoso.
“We pray that such thing will not happen in Ogbomoso land. The case was of no benefit to the people, including the litigants. So, we pray that such will not happen in Ogbomoso,” he said.
In response, Oba Olaoye outlined his vision for a prosperous and peaceful Ogbomosoland, based on a detailed 25-year plan to be unveiled in the coming months.
“I am the chosen one that God has given the stool of Soun, and I appeal to you all to please join hands with me to further positively project the good name of the Olaoye family for the benefit of the Ogbomosoland and humanity in general,” he stated.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, Oba Lekan Balogun, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, among others.
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