Amb Engr Prince Kabir Muhammed Oyeshola Adeyeoye Olaoye: The Task Ahead

History is brewing in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, a large and historical city in Oyo State Nigeria who just lost their monarch and subsequently there is an ongoing process of selecting a new king.

Oyo state is one of  largest states in Nigeria and the capital city, Ibadan is the largest city in West Africa as a whole. The history of Oyo State is not complete without the mention of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.

Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ now has a date with history and this has been generating awareness and heating up the polity.

The salient historical point of note is that Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ is generally known as a land of warriors and brave people. The story about the prowess of the founder of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Soun Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran who defeated the then terror of the Oyo People, Elemosho is still a rallying discourse in Yorubaland. The led to his ascendancy as the first ruler of the Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ people. The name Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ and the official title of the King, Soun, cane from these events.

Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ never lacked courageous men who always stood their ground when the chips are down starting from Soun Ogunlola himself who became so great and highly respected. His compound by the Ajagbon tree then became the Soun’s palace and a rallying point for all Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ citizens.

The late Soun, HRM Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagbungbade III of the Oluwusi Royal House, himself a great man,  was the longest reigning Soun in modern history, and passed away on December 12, 2021, at the age of 95, after a successful rule over some 257 surrounding villages and emerging towns which amalgamates into the area called Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́land. His exemplary life and leadership qualities Les to the establishment of several modern institutions in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́land.

We can also point out the prowess of a few notable warriors that are sons of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ like:

• Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, a lawyer, politician, aristocrat, former western region premier. He was murdered during the Nigeria first coup of January 1966.
• Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola OFR. Former Military Governor, Oyo State . Former Military Governor, Ogun State.
• Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, former military governor of Kwara State
• Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala, Former executive governor of Oyo State.
• Lt. Col. Shittu Alao, former Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff.

These were men of valour and bravery and lived up to their historical origin and expectations. It is not gainsaid therefore to expect the next king of this very important city be a man who will steer the delicate ship on its course. The people need continuity of good governance and rulership. The next ruler must be able to provide the required continuity in bravery and astounding leadership qualities. He must be able to drive more commercial activities unto the land. He must be influential too and can wield relevance and importance in the overall governance of Oyo State from where Ogbomosho derives its political power.

He must be able to sustain the monarchical activities of Yoruba Kings which is the cultural heritage of the Yoruba ethnic people and the legacy that is guided jealously and consider to be of high cultural value.

A Yoruba King is a traditional entity who passed through the rites of kings‘ installation for the throne of his forefathers as a leader with symbol of authority. He is referred as the go-between the people and the spirit world. The kings in Yoruba Kingdom are so much respected that they are seen as representatives of God on earth and are exalted into the position of deity because of their monarchical duties to their subjects at large.

The kings‘ popularly referred to in the Yoruba Kingdom as “ObaAlaye” or “Kabiyesi” are the custodian of the people‘s authority and custom. In spite of the sacrosanct character of the King, the functions and the monarchical duties of the Yoruba Kings were entirely secular.

Apart from his interest in ensuring the health, prosperity and public safety of his Kingdom, the monarchial duties of the King include the conduct of chiefs and critical matters of peace, war and administration of justice with the king as the head of his council as the court of first instance as well as the court of appeal.

Yoruba Cultural heritage pride itself in having highly refined traditional way of life when it comes to monarchical activities, kingship and others, This is encompassing many aspects of customs, traditions and the intangible aspect of a cultural heritage. People within specific cultural framework in Nigeria often arrogate the superiority to their general way of life as rooted in tradition even when practical evidence points to the contrary.

The process of selecting a new king In Yorubaland is emphasized and applauded especially the power, authority, integrity and fame of this traditional process. Among the best known West African examples of sacred kings are the kings of the Yoruba Kingdom which are known to be deities of a negligible shade lower than high ranking angels and referred to as death lieutenants of God or, supreme judges who deal ruthlessly with bad people. The Yoruba Kings are seen as powerful spirits who are not looked up directly in the eyes by their subjects as a sign of respect. The institution of Kingship is a common phenomenon with state empires, countries and other similar entities in which Yoruba kingdom is one. As a result the King is believed to be a legitimate representation of his Kingdom.

The King also complements the government of the day such as to ensure the dividends of good governance and democratic exigencies reach his people and domain.

In Yoruba tradition, even though the kingship position is hereditary, there are a number  families that are entitled to the throne. It is like a rotational system of government where rulership of a kingdom is rotated among the different families. For example, there are five ruling families in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ and by the rotation system, the next family to produce the king is the Laoye family from which ten members of this family have signifies their interest in the selection process. This is not out of place despite the fact that it’s usually obvious to give merit and overall influence a serious consideration in the entire process.

One of the members of the Laoye family, Amb. ENGR. Prince Kabir Muhammed Oyeshola Adeyeoye Laoye has stand out as the preferred candidate of choice. He is the most influential of the entire Laoye family and can attract the commercial sustainability required to enable Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ maintain the status quo and status quo ante. The city needs some much influence wielded by PKO as he is fondly called in political circles.

Amb. Engr. Prince Muhammed Kabir Laoye is a 45 year old, Nigerian Business Administrator, Banker, Sales and Marketing Professional cum Consultant, Astute Entrepreneur, Engineer, Ambassador of Peace, Writer and Politician. He is a social entrepreneurship colossus and renowned Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership Expert. He is a member of several professional associations.

PKO was born into the Soun Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ Royal Family of Oyo State. His parents were Prince and Princess Usamah Abioye Laoye. His grandfather, Laoye Oke Olanipekun was the paramount ruler of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ and reigned from 1944 to 1952 with notable achievements. Prince Muhammed Kabir Laoye is an heir apparent to the vacant Soun of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ Land throne, and he has offered himself as the candidate of choice to the ascendancy.

PKO is a completely detribalized and social change agent. He is widely travelled and mixed freely with different strata of the society.

Pko can be reached through any of the following channels:

Phone + 2 3 4 8 1 3 5 5 7 4 2 4 2,  + 2 3 4 9 0 7 0 0 4 8 6 3 8

Email o l a o y e 0 4 @ g m a i l . c o m

T w i t t e r – @ o l a o y e _ k a b i r

L i n k e d I n – @ o l a o y e – k a b i r – 5 b 7 8 3 7 7 9

F a c e b o o k – @ o l a o y e . k a b i r