Iresaadu, an ancient community near Ogbomoso, has rejected a Town Hall meeting scheduled by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, to hold in the community on Thursday.
The community, in a statement by one its princes, Adeyanju Adebayo, disclosed that Oba Olaoye scheduled a town hall meeting for Iresaadu High School but without any formal communication with either the traditional ruler or the people of Iresaadu.
The community, as stated in the statement, objected to the plan, saying the Ogbomoso paramount ruler was over-stepping his bounds with such move.
It pointed out that Iresaadu is an ancient town with the oba wearing beaded crown for centuries, adding that the town is not in the Soun Kingdom.
The community further stressed that the Soun of Ogbomoso 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 the 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 over-stepping his authority.
“Permit me to state further reasons likened to Oba Ghandi Olaoye over-stepping 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 favouritism or government considerations.
“Two, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso are not in the same local government area. Soun is a king in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area only, while Iresaadu is the headquarters of Surulere Local Government Area.
“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, Ogbomoso North is in Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire Federal Constituency.
“Five, Iresaadu and Ogbomoso North are not in the same senatorial district: Iresaadu is under Oyo Central Senatorial District, while Ogbomoso 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 Iresaadu Land and, as well, limit his developmental vision within Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, his area of influence.”
The community, therefore seized the opportunity to call the attention of Oyo State Government and state House of Assembly to the contentious issue of the appellation, “Ogbomoso Zone.”
It stated: We want to believe that this is what is giving Oba Ghandi Olaoye the leverage to act in a manner that the zone, 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 government areas 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.
“Oke Ogun as an 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 are differences between Ogbomoso Zone and Ogbomoso Town. The name, Ogbomoso Zone, is comprised of five local government areas but Ogbomoso Town is just one local government area which is Ogbomoso North Local Government Area.
“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 canceling the scheduled meeting and as well limit his monarchical influence and authority to his designated area.”
