A group of Ibadan indigenes, Ibadan King’s Men (Egbe Boba Se’lu) has asked the controversial newly promoted 21 High Chiefs and Baales in Ibadan whose kingship and promotion was voided by an Oyo State High Court on Friday to beg the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji within 21 days for their wrongdoings.
The group also asked the sacked ‘Kings’ to appease the gods and ancestors of Ibadanland for what it considered as offensive to the tradition of the ancient city.
Ibadan King’s Men said the 21-day ultimatum was necessary to correct the wrongdoings of the controversial ‘Kings’ in ‘denigrating the Olubadan stool.
Spokesperson of the group, Dr. Adams Akewula who spoke after a meeting in Ibadan on Monday where the judgment was appraised, declared that the best thing for the sacked kings now was to apologise to the Olubadan within 21 days and appease the gods and ancestors of Ibadan.
Ibadan King’s Men while condemning the action of the state government in the installation of the sacked kings, hailed Justice Olajumoke Aiki for her uprightness during the court processes.
Akewula added that the affected kings who were removed should behave like true sons of Yoruba land now that it was clear that “their elevation, promotion and installation as so-called Obas have no precedence in Ibadan Native Law and Tradition”.
“To preserve their dignity from further being eroded, we hereby demand a special apology from them to the Olubadan; the ancestors and founding fathers of the land within 21days, in order to make atonement for any perceived wrongs they might have done by their connivance with the ruling class to denigrate the stool of Olubadan.
“They remain our fathers and toeing path of honour now will assuage Kabiyesi’s feeling and indeed that of all Ibadan people towards them. After all, to err is human and to forgive is divine”.
Akewula on behalf of the group said Ibadan people would forever be grateful to the judge for standing firm against introduction of a system that would have rewritten the cherished history of the city.
He then called on the 21 sacked kings to desist from wearing the crowns and coronets that were given to them by the governor during their installation ceremonies at Mapo Hall on Sunday, August 27, 2017.
Akewula said “With this development, the 21 ‘Obas’ should desist from wearing their beaded coronets or crowns in obedience to this landmark judgment. The IKM also wonders why the leadership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes has remained silent and not deemed it necessary to congratulate Oba Adetunji? We feel concerned too on why our ever-pragmatic Council of Authentic Mogajis in Ibadan has remained silent of recent.”
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