The traditional leadership crisis in Oyo State has deepened following a dramatic declaration by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, who accused two fellow monarchs — the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, and the Onpetu of Ijeru — of insubordination, disrespect, and historical distortion.
In a public address shared via DriveTV News and monitored by SaharaReporters, Oba Olaoye described the two monarchs as non-indigenous settlers, claiming they were granted land in Ogbomoso during past conflicts but have now begun asserting traditional authority in ways he considers inappropriate.
“I am facing the same challenge my predecessor encountered. Some of those who were given land out of kindness have now assumed kingship and are rewriting history,” the Soun said.
According to the monarch, a recent meeting of traditional rulers across Ogbomoso land was attended by 21 out of 24 invited kings — with only the Olugbon and Onpetu absent. Oba Olaoye claimed the two sent what he described as a defiant letter questioning the legality of the meeting.
“They wrote to the council secretariat dismissing the meeting as illegal. But the truth is, Soun remains the head of all traditional rulers in Ogbomoso,” he asserted.
He went further to demand that both monarchs vacate the land they occupy, reiterating that they are “strangers” on Ogbomoso territory and accusing them of spreading false claims that their crowns predate that of the Soun.
In response, Oba Francis Alao, the Olugbon, defended his position, challenging Soun’s authority and asserting the seniority of his own royal heritage. He also dismissed the legitimacy of the Soun’s claims over the land, arguing that the current Soun’s palace is built on territory historically belonging to the Olugbon.
“Where is the Soun’s kingdom? Where is the Olubadan’s kingdom?” Olugbon asked, suggesting that only the Alaafin of Oyo held true kingdom status among Yoruba monarchs.
The Olugbon has also been vocal against the newly passed Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill 2025, describing it as politically motivated and calling for broader consultations.
The Soun’s remarks have provoked strong reactions from royal family heads (Mogajis) in Ogbomoso, who issued a rebuttal condemning the Olugbon’s statements as misleading and lacking historical foundation.
In a joint statement signed by Princes Olawuyi Itabiyi, Sikiru Oyeyiola, Olawale Olaoye, Oyebamiji Oyedeji, and Ilufoye Layode, the Mogajis accused Olugbon of distorting historical facts, insisting that Igbon was originally part of Ogbomoso territory.
Quoting The History of the Yorubas by Samuel Johnson, they stated: “The Olugbon at Ogbomoso is subject to the Baale of Ogbomoso,” arguing that the current Orile-Igbon did not belong to Oba Alao’s ancestral line.
They emphasized that Ogbomoso historically offered refuge to displaced groups during the 19th-century tribal wars, including those now residing in Igbon, and that any claims of sovereignty above the Soun are historically inaccurate.
As tensions escalate, the royal dispute has become one of the most prominent traditional power struggles in Oyo State, reflecting deep-rooted questions of historical identity, territorial claims, and royal hierarchy in Yorubaland.
