The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has assured the Nigeria Baptist Convention (NBC), that he will maintain the stance of his immediate predecessor, late Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, on the expanse of land the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS) and the Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) are built upon.
Recall the land, which accommodates the two institutions – Heritage of the Nigerian Baptists, located adjacent to each other in the heart of Ogbomoso, (separated though by a road), is a subject of litigation between the Osupa chieftaincy family and the NBC as the former is laying claim to the land thereby dismissing the ‘purported’ gifting of the land to the NBC by the late Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III on free hold.
Oba Oyewumi had, few years ago, converted the ownership structure of the said land to free hold from (100 years) lease hold under which it was previously held.
Meanwhile, speaking during a courtesy visit to the palace of Ogbomoso, on Wednesday, by the leadership of the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference, led by its president, Rev’d Dr. Thomas Niyi Ojo, Oba Orumogege III assured he would not do anything to rupture the extant position upheld by his predecessor on the land.
Rev’d Niyi Ojo had, in his address, congratulating the Soun over the success of his coronation on December 19, 2023, solicited the intervention of Oba Olaoye over the land matter, noting that the land was given to the missionaries by his great grandfather, Oba Atanda Olaoye Orumogege (I) on lease hold.
He added that the immediate past Oba after the expiration of the lease hold period (100 years), gave it to the NBC on free hold title, a development he, however, disclosed is being contended by the Osupa ruling house.
“I will like to bring it to the notice of His Imperial Majesty that the Land where the Hospital and Seminary are situated were given by your forbear – Oba Olaoye Orumogege 1. as a lease hold title. But before the demise of former Soun, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 3, the different land were eventually given to the Baptist on Free hold title.
“However, we have a ruling house – Osupa Ruling House still contending with the Nigerian Baptist Convention, saying that the former Soun has no right to give the land on Free hold title. The case is at the Ogbomoso High Court. We will request with humility that His Imperial Majesty should kindly intervene on the matter.”
Responding to the plea, Oba Olaoye affirmed nothing would alter the position of late Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III on the land.
He said, “I am not here to undo the work of the previous Soun and I will do everything possible to preserve his heritage.”
Also responding to the appeal by Dr Niyi Ojo on unity and cooperation among Obas in Ogbomoso zone saying that would form the bedrock of development, Oba Ghandi Olaoye stressed he would cooperate with any Oba who was willing to work with him, asserting Soun remains the paramount ruler in Ogbomoso.
“I am ready to work with all Obas who reach out to me. I must confess I am too busy to be fighting anyone. You all know that the city called Ogbomoso has just one King and his name is Soun.”
Among the leaders of the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference who accompanied Rev’d Dr Niyi Ojo to the palace include his wife; Rev’d Segun Babalola, conference chairman and who is Minister-in-Charge of Glad Tidings Baptist Church, Randa; Rev’d Dr Sunday Oyeniran, chairman of the Pastors Conference and who is under-shepherd of Caretaker Baptist Church.
