A former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has advised some High Chiefs in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to sheath their swords with a warning that the interest of the ancient city was greater than anyone of them.
Ladoja, who is also the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, while dissociating himself from some derogatory statements credited to the High Chiefs about the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, however, maintained that the High Chiefs still remained High Chiefs and not ‘Obas’ as they have been parading themselves.
The crisis, which has made the Olubadan and some High Chiefs, who are also members of the Olubadan-in-Council to be operating in a cat-and-mouse manner started when the outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi, announced the resolve of his government to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
The High Chiefs who have been having a running battle with the monarch included: the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin; Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Eddy Oyewole Foko; Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Kolawole Adegbola and Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade.
Ajimobi, on Saturday 27th September 2017 presented staff of offices and “crowns” to the High Chiefs after he announced that the High Chiefs have been promoted to the status of Obas (Kings).
The High Chiefs, who were promoted as Obas without definite domain or territory are still members of the Olubadan-in-Council and are still in the Olubadan succession line. They have been parading themselves as Obas since they were crowned in 2017 by Ajimobi.
The Olubadan argued that he is the only recognised monarch in the ancient city, while the High Chiefs said that they are also Kings in their own. This, has, however, lead to the existing crisis between the two parties.
On Monday, some members of the Olubadan-in-Council led by High Chief Lekan Balogun who is also the Otun Olubadan accused the Olubadan of running a one-man show.
However, the monarch through his Media Assistant, Mr. Adeola Oloko, refuted that he has not commit any offence. Adetunji asked the High Chiefs to remove their crowns and come back to the palace to perform their roles as members of his council.
Balogun, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues later on Wednesday however faulted Olubadan’s claims, insisting that none of the issues raised in their allegations against the “nefarious activities going on in his palace such as non-screening of prospective Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village head) by the council before installation; the cash and carry manner by which people now get positions of Mogaji and Baale, leading to the appointment of more than one Mogaji from the same compound and relinquishing of the palace authority to ‘Olori’ (the wife of the monarch) among others have been answered.
He kicked against the directive of the Olubadan urging them drop their crowns and return to the palace, as he described the directive as hypocritical and an aspersion on the review of the laws governing traditional institution in Oyo State, which approves their installation as beaded crown wearing kings.
But, Ladoja who is also one of the members of the Olubadan-in-Council, while dissociating himself from Balogun and other High Chiefs unsatisfactory statements, maintained that the High Chiefs who have been keeping malice with the Olubadan were being economical with the truth.
Ladoja in a statement issued on his behalf by Mr. Lanre Latinwo, his Media Aide, said that, “the High Chiefs were being economical with the truth knowing fully well that they were on several occasions invited to attend meetings in the palace but refused to do so”.
The statement obtained by DAILY POST reads, “It is on record that several invitations were sent to them to attend Olubadan – in – council meetings at the Popoyemoja Palace of the referred Olubadan of which they never attended.
“In those letters of invitations, they were addressed with their titles e.g Otun Olubadan, Balogun etc.
“Unfortunately, since their installations as “Obas” they have been referring to themselves as ‘Obas-in-council’ and not as members of Olubadan-in-council, holding their meetings in Mapo Hall refusing to come to the Olubadan palace”.
Ladoja then appeal to his colleagues to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in Ibadanland.
According to him, “Ibadanland is greater than anybody no matter how highly placed”.
“What is paramount in the mind of the Monarch is how to move Ibadanland to the greater heights, which he is expecting the co-operation of all members of the Olubadan-in-council.”
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