The Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III earlier in the week paid a historical visit to Jos the capital of Plateau state to meet with the Gwon Jos and his cabinet and also with the Ogbomoso indigenes and indeed the Yoruba inhabitants in the state. The visit evoked enthusiasm and excitement.
ogbomosoinsightonline.com looks at five takeaways from the visit:
1. The meeting deepens the relationship Ogbomoso has with Jos. Ogbomoso people are predominant among the non-northerners inhabiting Jos and have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the famed Tin City, economically and what have you. The images of prominent personalities like late business tycoon, Chief Lagbemiro, late Soun Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP, CON, CFR, Chief Onigbinde and so on loom large in the city. The courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Jos, HRM Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwon Jos, is significant as it will pave the way for further exploration of collaboration between the two historical cities. Recall late Soun Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III was installed as Chancellor, Plateau State University and was conferred with the honorary doctorate award of the university.
2. Investment prospect in Ogbomoso: Oba Ghandi Olaoye is a prominent proponent of direct investment in Ogbomoso especially by indigenes in the diaspora, so as to boost its economy, thus, the Jos visit provided a platform to emphasize the drive. Sources at the meeting informed ogbomosoinsightonline.com that the Oba passionately charged the attendees to “think home, look home, develop home.”
3. Remove your fear over land grabbers’ wahala: Having identified the problem often posed by land owners some of whom have a penchant for selling lands to multiple persons thereby igniting crises, the Oba assured this problem will be removed. Such development is a limiting factor to investment at home and in non-residents having confidence associating with their homeland, But Oba Ghandi has assured that “such a thing has become a thing of the past. If you are faced with such a problem, let me know,” his majesty reportedly remarked.
4. The visit has provoked “holy jealousy” in Kaduna, Kafanchan and other major cities in the north with a large congregation of Ogbomosos: One thing with the seek-out is that indigenes of Ogbomoso in some major cities are now buoyed and enthusiastic to also receive the monarch. This is a good turn of event and a good omen, as with time, it is believed this will elicit renewed interest in them in their homeland as well as a competitive spirit as to which of them can contribute most significantly to its development.
5. White horse gift symbolizes power, strength, victory, transformation, cleansing, suppression of evil etc: White horse is significant in many cultures across the world. The presentation of a white horse to the Soun is therefore a conveyance of good fortune from the thousands of indigenes in Jos to the hardworking monarch.
