The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibadan obas

  • Ibadan Obas to Olubadan: you’re denigrating Olubadan stool

    Indication emerged yesterday that the rift between the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the promoted Obas in Ibadanland constituting the Olubadan-in-Council may have further worsened.

    The aggrieved Ibadan Obas accused the Olubadan of denigrating the Olubadan institution by what they described as “illegal practices and apparent lack of regards for the council”.

    The Olubadan-in-Council, speaking through the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, after a meeting held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan yesterday, said the actions of the paramount ruler called for urgent caution to forestall crisis.

    Oba Balogun, who lamented the crisis within the traditional council since the promotion of the new Obas, said it was sad that the Olubadan is destroying the system that brought him to the throne as a king.

    He said rather than recognise the position of the Olubadan-in-Council, Oba Adetunji conferred the duties of the entire council on one of his wives, who rules by proxy.

    Oba Balogun said: “We want to draw the attention of the people of Ibadan to some irregularities and illegalities embarked upon by the Olubadan. We are members of the Olubadan-in-Council, but we are being sidelined by the Olubadan.

    “Against tradition, Oba Saliu is running a one-man show, disregarding the Council. He appoints Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads) without making any recourse to the council. Most of the things that he does are illegal.

    “For instance, the Olori is not a member of the Olubadan-in-Council but in his own case, the Olori unilaterally takes decisions on his behalf.

    “If Olubadan thinks we do not matter, we also can show that he doesn’t matter without us. He should not forget that when he was to be made the Olubadan, he rose through the council. We (the Olubadan-in-Council) made Olubadan out of him, he did not make us what we are, but we made him the Olubadan.

    “Kabiyesi, Oba Adetunji has turned the institution of Olubadan into personal affairs, which can be run at his wife’s whims and caprices, but which amounts to illegality. Contrary to their belief at the Popoyemoja Palace that Olubadan is an authority unto himself, we are telling the whole world that Olubadan only exists with his council.

    REad also: Olubadan: new Iyalode to be installed soon

    “The danger of what they are doing in the palace has been manifesting in the ridiculous action of appointing two or more Mogajis from the same compound, honouring people with Mogaji title based on friendship as well as ‘cash and carry’ award of Baales to undeserving people.”

    Contributing to the Obas’ submission, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi and Oba Hamidu Ajibade said there had been efforts by both individuals and organisations to ensure that peace reigns in the Olubadan-in-Council, but lamented that all such efforts had been scuttled by the wife of Kabiyesi (Olori Rasheedat), who insisted that her husband would not sit with his members of council.

    The Obas warned the newly installed Mogajis and Baales in Ibadan not to see their appointment as legal, saying that “their installations should be backed by the council before being recognized”.

    The aggrieved Obas were installed as crown-wearing Obas by the Subsidiary Legislation of Recognised Chieftaincies (Miscellaneous Provision) order on Page 389 Cap 28 section 1, 2, and 3 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.

    With their installation as traditional Obas on August 28, 2017, the members of the Olubadan-in-Council are expected to perform dual roles as lesser Obas and as well perform their roles as the highest advisory body to the Olubadan.

    Among the other Obas in attendance were Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola and Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe.

  • Oyo approves beaded crown, coronets for new Ibadan obas, others

    The Oyo State Government in Thursday approved beaded crowns and coronets for 48 obas across the state.

    They included the recently crowned 21 Ibadan obas and traditional rulers and chiefs across the state.

    The new law provides alternative legal validation and cover for the controversial elevation of the 21 newly crowned Ibadan monarchs.

    A state High Court had nullified the crowning of the obas based on the recommendation of a judicial panel in August last year.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who made the disclosure, said the decision was taken after due consultation with members of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.

    He said the approval was in line with the exercise of powers conferred on the governor by Section 28(1) of the Chiefs Law Cap 28, Vol. 1 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria and by virtue of all other powers on the matter.

    The commissioner said the approval has been gazetted with Oyo State Notice No. 20-67 of Oyo State of Nigeria Gazette No. 3, Vol. 43 published March 29, 2018 and endorsed under the governor’s command by the Secretary to the State Government, Ishmael Olalekan Alli.

    According to Arulogun, 26 Obas will wear beaded crown based on the approval, while the remaining 22 will wear coronets.

    He said over 100 applications were received for beaded crowns from all the geo-political zones of the state.

    The commissioner further disclosed that the consultative meeting with the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs was attended by 23 Obas and Chiefs led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.

    He said three of the monarchs did not attend the meeting due to old age while three others opted out for different reasons.

  • Ibadan Obas to Ladoja: you can’t stop us

    The 21 obas enthroned in Ibadan metropolis last year have said former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja cannot stop them from wearing beaded crowns because they have appealed the judgment that sacked them.

    Ladoja had attacked the obas on a radio programme on Monday, asking them to stop wearing beaded crowns and parading themselves as obas because of a court verdict that nullified their enthronement.

    But rising from a meeting at the Oja’ba palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan yesterday, the new obas assured the former governor that they would not stop wearing their crowns because their appeal against the January 11 judgment meant that the status quo ante remained.

    They accused Ladoja of vendetta, saying he was opposed to their elevation because he did not succeed in the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration when he was governor.

    They said Ladoja was always sponsoring crises.

    The obas urged Ladoja to stop his opposition to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who they said had succeeded in many areas above him.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadan, noted that what Ladoja said was inconsistent with the law.

    He said: “There was no declaration that we should not wear our crowns. We have appealed the judgment. I wore my crown to Kano and no policeman can arrest me because of that. The status quo remains since we have appealed the judgment. What Ladoja is in court over is mere ruse.

    “The Olubadan of Ibadan is our father. Ladoja is only fighting a war of vendetta. On December 5, 2005, Ladoja made a publication in Nigerian Tribune where he had appointed 47 obas in Ibadan. It was signed by Chief Ayodele Adigun on December 23, 2005. The fact that he was unable to carry it out but Governor Ajimobi was able to do it is what is paining him. Ajimobi meant well. We have been crowned and nobody can change that.”

    Buttressing the position, Oba Amidu Ajibade Salaudeen, the Ekarun Olubadan, said: “We have been crowned and nobody can remove it. Why didn’t Ladoja implement what he had published? No governor has ever done so much as Ajimobi. Former Military Governor David Jemibewon crowned Oba Adebimpe, just as Ajimobi has done for us.

    “Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Imperial Majesty and Olubadan of Ibadan, is our father, and we appreciate that. But whoever wants to destroy the peace of Ibadan will not succeed.

    “We appeal to Ladoja to please cooperate with our governor for peace to reign.”

    Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun Olubadan, remarked: “Everywhere Ladoja is, he always want to destroy it… Since we have gone to Appeal Court, the status quo remains. So, nobody can restrain us from wearing our crowns.”

    Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the Head of the Olubadan-in-Council, urged Ladoja, who he described as “my other brother,” to “let bygone be bygone and allow peace to reign”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Olubadan gets 21-day deadline

    Olubadan gets 21-day deadline

    •No-confidence vote threat

    Members of the Ibadan Council of Obas yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to reconcile his activities with the provisions of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Review or face vote of no confidence from them.

    They addressed reporters at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The most senior monarch to the Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who spoke for the others accused Oba Adetunji of flouting the provisions of the chieftaincy law by taking unilateral decisions and allegedly promoting civil disorder.

    They said the Olubadan’s wives were embarrassing the palace through their excesses and alleged misleading the monarch on many issues.

    The council members also accused the Olubadan of inciting people against Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who undertook the review, which made him an Imperial Majesty.

    They recalled that the August 2017 review of the Chieftaincy Declaration by the state government was a response to several petitions and agitation for reform by members of the defunct Olubadan-In-Council.

    According to them, Ibadan indigenes should rather be grateful to Ajimobi for accenting to their request.

    The monarchs said they wrote to Oba Adetunji in July, 2016, to lodge complaints about him, copies of which were sent to the governor and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    They added that members of the Ibadan Elders Forum waded in and resolved the crisis at the time.

    Oba Adetunji was enthroned in February, 2016.

    Emphasising their grouses against the Olubadan, the obas said: “Meetings of the Olubadan-In-Council were not conducted properly as they had been done. Oloris (queens) were still attending meetings with us and contributing, dictating and attacking high chiefs in curses and abuses.

    “Appointment of baales and mogajis are not in compliance with the proper set-up rules and standards. Apart from monetary scandal of which Kabiyesi is yet to refrain, a new Olubadan-In-Council is inside Popoyemoja palace, consisting of the Olubadan, the oloris and the Personal Assistant to the Kabiyesi (Tairu), who decide from time to time who is to be baale or mogaji and will only send hearing notice of meeting and agenda to the real members of the Olubadan-In-Council on the Saturday preceding the installation date on Monday. This leaves no time for protest, and any attempt to protest on Monday is fruitless, as Kabiyesi believed that he is not challengeable.”

    The monarchs also accused Oba Adetunji of acting alone in traditional functions.

    They said he sent clerks and personal assistants with the staff of authority or attended occasions singularly the or with his wives.

    The council said many litigations were ongoing over the installations of mogajis and baales because they were unilaterally and wrongly done.

    Some examples they cited are: the Baale Ajogbobi, Mogaji Kosoko/Onilabu, Baale Badeku and Mogaji Oyelakun.

    Highlighting the merits of the recent review, the monarchs noted that the Olubadan, who was until then His Royal Majesty, could only install baales and mogajis.

    The obas said the review elevated him to His Imperial Majesty, giving the Olubadan the right to enthrone other obas.

    They recalled that the first major review of the declaration was undertaken in 1976 when the late Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe was elevated to His Royal Majesty, becoming the first Ibadan oba to wear beaded crown.

    The monarchs said this year’s review would not be the last as Ibadan indigenes sought better ways to bring development to Ibadan.

    They also accused the Olubadan of wanting to be the only monarch in Ibadan metropolis, a city they reiterated is the largest in West Africa.

    The obas said as members of the council, which nominated the Olubadan, they could pass a vote of no confidence on him, thereby preparing the ground for deposition, if the monarch remained recalcitrant.

    They said: “We are, by this conference, giving His Imperial Majesty a 21-day ultimatum to change his stand and work for the improvement of Ibadan, rather than promoting disorderliness. Failure to do so, the entire Ibadan Council of Obas will pass a vote of no confidence in the Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and declare him persona non-grata, and the government will have no other choice than to move for appropriate action.

    “You need to know that we the then Olubadan-In-Council nominated and appointed him and presented the said Kabiyesi Adetunji to the government of Oyo State for inauguration and approval or confirmation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, knowing well that under the law, anybody from the position of Ekerin is qualified for the position of the Olubadan.

    “The obaship of the Olubadan did not start from Oba Saliu and it will not end in his palace…”

    At the briefing were Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Oba Amidu Ajibade and Oba Kola Adegbola.

    Contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Olubadan, Mr Adeola Oloko, said the palace would react at the appropriate time.