Iresaadu, an ancient town near Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has rejected a scheduled town hall meeting in the community scheduled by the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye.
The community, in a statement signed by a prince of the town, Adeyanju Adebayo, disclosed that Oba Olaoye scheduled a town hall meeting for Iresaadu High School on Thursday, July 3, without any formal communication with either the traditional ruler or the people of Iresaadu.
The statement objected to the plan, saying the Ogbomoso paramount ruler was overstepping his bound with such move.
It pointed out that Iresaadu is an ancient town, with the king wearing beaded crown for centuries. It affirmed that the town is not in Soun’s kingdom, stressing that the Soun is not in a position to have such a meeting.
The statement read in part: “The royal families, indigenes and residents of Iresaadu Town reject Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso’s town hall meeting scheduled to hold at Iresaadu High School on Thursday, 3rd July, 2025.
“The Iresaadu indigenes are people of honour with great respect for the tradition of their land and, as such, would not be comfortable if anyone, no matter how highly placed, tries to disrespect and at the same time disregard the culture and tradition of the community and people.
“It has come to our knowledge that without prior official notification, through an official means of communication to the elders and kingmakers of the community, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, has slated a town hall meeting for 3rd July, 2025, at lresaadu High School.
“It was a shock and great surprise to the community, as we got the information through a flyer circulating on WhatsApp that Oba Ghandi Olaoye is coming for a town hall meeting in respect of his “25 Years Developmental Vision for Ogbomoso Land” at Iresaadu town, which is the headquarters of Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“We find such proposed town hall meeting in our town – Iresaadu – as an embarrassment, disrespectful and alien to our culture and traditions of lresaadu people capable of breaching the existing peace and tranquility of the community. This is also to be likened to Oba Ghandi’s overstepping his authority.
“Permit me to state further reasons likened to Oba Ghandi Olaoye overstepping his bounds with these historical facts thus:
“One, historically Iresaadu is an ancient town and the kingship title ‘Aresaadu of Iresaadu Kingdom’ is an ancient beaded monarch and it has been in existence since the 9th Century.
“This confirmed that the monarch is not like any former chief ( Baale) that was elevated to the kingship level (throne) by favoritism or government considerations.
“Two, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same local government. Soun is a king in Ogbomoso North Local Government only, while Iresaadu is the headquarters of Surulere Local Government.
“Three, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same state constituency. Iresaadu is under Surulere/Ogooluwa State Constituency while Ogbomoso is under Ogbomoso North State Constituency.
“Four, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same federal constituency. Iresaadu is under Surulere/Ogooluwa Federal constituency and Ogbomoso North is under Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire Federal constituency.
“Five, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso North are not in the same senatorial district. Iresaadu is under Oyo Central Senatorial district while Ogbomoso North is under Oyo North Senatorial district.
“Based on the above facts and reasons, we are advising Oba Ghandi Olaoye to cancel his proposed town hall meeting in Irasaadu land, and as well limit his developmental vision within Ogbomoso North Local Government, his area of influence.
“We are, therefore, using this medium to call the attention of Oyo State Government and Oyo State House of Assembly on the issue of the appellation ‘Ogbomoso Zone.’ We want to believe that this is what is giving Oba Ghandi Olaoye the leverage to act in a manner that the zone that is named ‘Ogbomoso Zone’ is under his jurisdiction, authority, and influence.
“The zone’s name urgently needs to be changed to the one of a popular river that cuts across the five local governments of the zone called Oba river.
“The need to change Ogbomoso Zone to Oba Zone or Oke-Oba has now become imperative and very necessary more than ever. Issues like this are quite similar to some other zones in Oyo State e.g Ibarapa Zone and Oke Ogun Zone.
“We have seven zones in Oyo State namely Ibarapa, Ibadan Inner City, Ibadan Outer City, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun Zone 1 and Oke Ogun Zone 2.
“In Oke Ogun for example, if anyone says he/she travels to Oke Ogun, the first question that will arise is ‘which town in Oke-Ogun,? since it is a common knowledge that we have many towns that made up Oke Ogun. if anyone is going to Ibarapa, one will be asked: ‘which town in Ibarapa?’ But when it comes to Ogbomoso Zone, hardly do people know that there are many towns that make up the zone.
“We sincerely appeal that the appellation – ‘Ogbomoso Zone’ – be changed now for clarity purposes.
“It is worthy to note that there is a difference between Ogbomoso Zone and Ogbomoso town.
“The name ‘Ogbomoso zone’ comprises five local government areas, but Ogbomoso town is just in one local government, which is Ogbomoso North Local Government.
“In order to maintain the prevalent peace in the community and as well stop the Soun of Ogbomoso from parading as well as seeing himself as a zonal king, this change has become inevitable.
‘We believe that Oba Ghandi Olaoye, being a former Pastor, will allow peace to reign by cancelling the scheduled meeting, and as well limit his monarchical influence and authority to his designated area.”
