Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, the head of kingmakers in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, has said that the people of the town had been waiting for the decision of the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde on the report submitted, after completion of the selection process for the new Soun of Ogbomoso.
Otolorin who stated this on Thursday, maintained that the kingmakers screened all the 23 names the Olaoye Ruling House submitted to them for the next Soun, adding that no law was violated.
In his words: “It would have reduced our task if the ruling house had sent to us just one name but they sent all they had and we screened the names. We have submitted our report to the governor and he is the one everybody is waiting for now.
“We have completed the selection process and have forwarded our report to him and that is where our job ends”, he added.
When asked if the name of the United States based Pastor, Afolabi Olaoye, aka Pastor Ghandi, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was the one submitted to the governor, Otolorin said, “Wait for the governor’s decision.”
Meanwhile, the family of late Justice Mofoye Oyetunde of Ile Aremo had alleged that a Director of the African Development Bank, Dr. Oyebode Oyetunde, was excluded from contesting.
One of the elders in the family, Dr Usman Akano, said the Soun Chieftaincy Law of 1957 prescribed that the family whose turn it was to produce the Soun, would submit just one name to the kingmakers.
He added that if they found the person suitable, they would recommend him to the governor but if not, they would ask the family to send another name until a suitable prince is found.
The family has however called on the governor to order a fresh selection process and nobody should be excluded.
The throne became vacant following the death of the last Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, on December 12, 2021, at the age of 95. He ruled for about 48 years.