The Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaye has rejected the pronouncement of the dissolution of its executive committee by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, describing the action as divisive and unconstitutional.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the global association of Ogbomoso indigenes reaffirmed its rejection of the monarch’s directive, declaring it “null, void, and of no effect.”
The association emphasized that it is a duly registered body with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and guided by its constitution, which cannot be overridden by the fiat of the monarch, who serves only as the grand patron.
The statement read: “It is ironic and unacceptable for an honorary grand patron of a registered organization with its approved constitution to unilaterally, without recourse to the provisions of the constitution, dissolve the elected executive committee of the organization and appoint an illegal caretaker committee in its stead.
“The act is unknown to the constitution of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaye and such dissolution and appointments cannot stand.”
The association disclosed that at an emergency meeting held on Monday at its secretariat in Ogbomoso, several key resolutions were adopted.
Among them was the suspension of Engineer Lanre Ogunwole, who was said to have been imposed by the monarch, and the appointment of Alhaji Abdulrahim Adetayo Yusuf, a surviving member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), as Acting President.
The resolutions, signed by Acting President Yusuf and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade T. M. Balogun, include:
Suspension of Engr. Lanre Ogunwole and appointment of Alhaji Abdulrahim Adetayo Yusuf as Acting President, declaration of the purported dissolution of the executive committee by Oba Olaoye as null, void, unconstitutional, illegal, and ultra-vires, and reaffirmation that Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaye is a legal entity with a registered constitution and Board of Trustees at the CAC (registered in 2014 and ratified in 2017).
Other parts of the resolutions also include a warning that the monarch’s unilateral action was divisive and polarizing Ogbomoso, describing it as an avoidable and potentially dangerous situation.
The association also pointed out that aside from the Soun of Ogbomoso, other traditional rulers such as the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Onpetu of Ijeru, Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Aresadu of Iresaadu, and Alajaawa of Ajaawa remain life patrons of the association, yet were not consulted before the dissolution was announced.
The statement urged all sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, both at home and in the diaspora, to disregard the monarch’s pronouncement and continue to support the association’s elected leadership.
“Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaye is vibrant and alive with its elected executive and living Board of Trustees. It will continue to exist in line with the dreams of our founding fathers,” the statement concluded.