Soun to receive staff of office Dec 19

The official coronation of the new Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Afolabi Olaoye, will hold from Dec. 14 to Dec. 19, an organising official said on Tuesday in Ogbomoso.

Chairman of the coronation’s Central Planning Committee, Prof Adesola Adepoju, who disclosed this in a statement, said the dates were agreed upon after a court approval.

”This followed the approval of the motion of stay of execution by the Oyo State High Court against the nullification of the selection process which enthroned Oba Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III.

“The date of December 16, as published by some news media, is incorrect.

”Rather, the events associated with the coronation will commence on Dec. 14 and culminate in the official presentation of Staff of Office on Dec. 19 by the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso had on Monday granted a stay of execution of an October 25 judgment.

The judgment had ordered the removal of the traditional ruler following a suit filed by a Prince of Ogbomoso, Kabir Olaoye.

He had alleged there were irregularities in the process which led to Oba Olaoye’s emergence as the new Soun of Ogbomoso land.

Justice Kareem Adedokun ruled in favour of the plaintiff, sacking Oba Afolabi Olaoye and asking for the selection process to be done again.

But, displeased with the judgment, Oba Afolabi Olaoye and the Oyo state government had filed an appeal as well as an application for a stay of execution.

The judge granted the application for a stay of execution and directed all the parties to maintain the status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the appeal already filed.

NAN reports that the Oyo State Government had announced Afolabi, a pastor, as the new Soun on Sept. 8.

This was about two years after Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, joined his ancestors in December 2021 at the age of 95 years after reigning for 48 years.

NAN