Soun of Ogbomoso locks Alao-Akala out of inner palace

The hope of a former Governor of Oyo State and Labour Party gubernatorial‎ candidate in the 2015 general election, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, ‎to regain his lost relevance in his home state with his intended move to the ruling All Progressives Congress may have suffered a major setback in his hometown, Ogbomoso, due to his fallout with the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi.
Between January 2006 and May 2011 when Alao-Akala held sway as governor, he had a running battle with the trio of the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
It was gathered that Oba Oyewumi, who is married to Alao-Akala’s cousin, Olori Laronke, had at different times cautioned the former Governor on his unruly behaviour to elders in the state, including the Alaafin and Olubadan.
It is worth of note that Soun’s son, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, who served as Alao-Akala’s Special Adviser on MDGs, had in the past made several efforts to manage the relationship between the former governor and the Soun.
According to a source, the ex-police officer had at his thanksgiving service on May 29, 2011 rained abuses on the person of Oba Oyewumi, attributing his failure to clinch the second term to the monarch’s support for Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
It was gathered that shortly before attending a programme in commemoration of the 50th remembrance anniversary of Chief S. L. Akintola on Thursday, Alao-Akala in the company of the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, had visited Oba Oyewumi ‎to seek forgiveness from the monarch.
Governor Ajimobi and Alao-Akala were reported to have arrived the palace at 4.25pm and left at 4.50pm.
According to those privy to the visit, the duo, who were clad in Agbada, were shocked as‎ the first class traditional ruler refused to grant Alao-Akala access to his inner chamber and did not heed to Ajimobi’s plea on behalf of the former governor.
A visibly disappointed Ajimobi was said to have imagined the level of atrocities Alao-Akala had committed against the monarch, who many know as non-partisan and easy going.
It will recalled that the Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, had also rejected a letter of apology from Alao-Akala shortly before the 2015 election, insisting that he will not forgive the ex-police officer’s arrogance and unruly behaviour while he held sway as governor.
To some analysts, the rejection of Alao-Akala by strong chieftains of the APC in Ogbomoso zone, including Senator Fati Buhari and Chief Akin Oke, may have put the fate of the former governor hanging in the political circle of Oyo State.