The ancient town of Iresaadu near Ogbomoso has openly rejected a proposed town hall meeting scheduled by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, citing lack of communication and disregard for local customs. In a statement signed by a town prince, Adeyanju Adebayo, the community expressed shock at learning about the meeting only through a flyer circulating on WhatsApp. The flyer announced that Oba Olaoye intended to host a town hall meeting on July 3 at Iresaadu High School to discuss his 25-year development vision for Ogbomoso land. However, the community insists that no formal invitation or notification was given to their traditional ruler or elders.
Iresaadu’s leadership strongly condemned the meeting as an intrusion into a community with its own long-standing kingship tradition. They emphasized that Iresaadu is not under the authority or jurisdiction of the Soun of Ogbomoso, stating that their monarch has been a beaded crown ruler since the 9th century, not elevated by political favour or governmental decree. The community views the Soun’s action as disrespectful and capable of disturbing the peace and tradition of the area. They emphasized that Oba Olaoye holds no authority in their territory and has overstepped his bounds by planning such a gathering.
Further clarifying the basis of their objection, the statement detailed that Iresaadu and Ogbomoso belong to entirely different administrative and political zones. Iresaadu falls under Surulere Local Government, a different state and federal constituency, and even a different senatorial district from Ogbomoso North where the Soun holds traditional authority. On this basis, the people of Iresaadu urged Oba Olaoye to cancel the meeting and confine his developmental agenda to his jurisdiction in Ogbomoso North.
The statement also called on the Oyo State Government and House of Assembly to address the misleading use of the term “Ogbomoso Zone,” which, they argue, fuels misconceptions about the extent of Oba Olaoye’s influence. Suggesting a renaming to “Oba Zone” or “Oke-Oba,” the Iresaadu community argued that the current appellation wrongly implies that all towns in the zone fall under the Soun’s control. They insisted that peace and clarity would be best preserved by redefining the zone’s identity and reminding all traditional rulers, including the Soun, to remain within their historically and administratively defined boundaries.
