The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mogajis

  • Olubadan: CCII, Mogajis, others honour Oba Ladoja at Jumat Thanksgiving

    Olubadan: CCII, Mogajis, others honour Oba Ladoja at Jumat Thanksgiving

    The coronation Jumat Thanksgiving service of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, drew dignitaries, including members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mogajis, senators, and politicians.

    The event, held on Friday at the Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan, formed part of the weeklong activities marking the coronation of Oba Ladoja, who was presented with the Staff and Instrument of Office by Governor Seyi Makinde last week at Mapo Hall.

    In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abubakar Agbotomokekere, urged residents and indigenes to support the monarch for a successful reign, cautioning against distractions that could hinder the city’s progress.

    He praised Oba Ladoja as a respected leader whose pedigree and antecedents command recognition within and outside Ibadanland, stressing that leadership begins at the family level and requires accountability.

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    Highlights of the event included special prayers for Olubadan’s reign and the presentation of a gift to him.

    Among the dignitaries present were CCII President General, Barr. Ajeniyi Ajewole; President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori; Senator Sharafadeen Ali; Senator Fatai Buhari; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; ex-lawmaker, Soji Akanbi; former Osun SSG, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; and ICPI Coordinator, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade.

  • Truce between Olubadan, high chiefs excites mogajis

    The authentic mogajis in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have expressed optimism that the crisis between the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Olatunji, and some of his high chiefs over their controversial beaded crowns will soon be resolved.

    This followed the recent truce brokered by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    The former governor, who is the only Ibadan high chief who the rejected government’s beaded crown, had challenged and won at the State High Court the controversial elevation of Ibadan high chiefs to beaded crown-wearing obas.

    The state government has since appealed the High Court judgment, which nullified the Review of the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the spokesman of the authentic mogajis, Chief Wale Oladoja, said the mogajis and other true sons and daughters of the city received the news of the truce with excitement.

    The statement said the reconciliation kick-started by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) with the support of elder statesman, Dr. Lekan Are, had borne worthy fruits.

    Oladoja, who is a former Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, hailed Oba Adetunji for his abiding faith in the tradition and unwavering stance since August, last year, when the state government elevated the high chiefs and some baales to crown-wearing and coronet-bearing kings.

    The authentic mogajis also hailed the concerned high chiefs for retracing their steps and allowing amicable resolution of the crisis, especially the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; High Chief Eddy Oyewole and High Chief Abiodun Kola Daisi, who were elevated to crown-wearing status by the government.

    Oladoja recalled that last year’s coronation of the high chiefs and baales had further reinforced the mogajis’ belief that leading traditional rulers, like Ibadan high chiefs, who are the custodians of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, should not dabble in partisan politics because of their standings in the society.

    On next year’s general elections, the mogajis urged the concerned chiefs to exercise restraints on political issues.

    They noted that as family heads, who daily witness how the mass of their people yearn for greater democratic dividends, they would work with well-spirited candidate to engender good governance in line with the dream of the founding fathers of Ibadan and other parts of the state.

  • Mogajis: why Olubadan, Ladoja won’t attend Ibadan peace parley with Ajimobi

    Mogajis (family heads) in Ibadan yesterday urged the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the Osi Olubadan, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, not to have any peace meeting with Governor Abiola Ajimobi until the gunmen, who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan, are apprehended and brought to justice.

    A truce committee was raised last week to broker peace among the gladiators.

    Members of the committee include president of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, some members of Ibadan Elders Forum, religious leaders and opinion moulders.

    But after their meeting, the mojagis told reporters on phone that they were making representations to the monarch and Ladoja to boycott the peace parley.

    Their spokesman Wale Oladoja, the Mogaji Akinsola compound at Oopo Labiran, said: “We deliberated extensively on the recent attack on the palace, which sad event occurred exactly a week ago; the peace parley and the security implications of the invasion of the oba’s palace, among other issues.

    “We are worried that a week after the incident and based on the governor’s insistence that he knew those who attacked the palace, the suspects are yet to be apprehended and brought to book. Yet, they are talking of peace parley. Could they be talking about peace if the kabiyesi’s life had been exterminated by gun-totting palace invaders?

    “We align with the position of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, that the governor should fish out the gunmen and make them to face prosecution. The police should also conclude their investigation on time and bring the suspects to justice. Anything short of this, we are ready to hold a mega rally and demand same from the authorities concerned.

    “The mogajis also reviewed the list of panel members of the truce committee and we have our reservations because many of them, especially the CCII and Ibadan Elders, have compromised and would be too biased in their judgment. So, we shall impress it on the kabiyesi and Ladoja to stay away from such arrangement.

    “We will welcome a situation whereby those mediating are religious leaders of the three major faith: Christian, Islam and the traditionalists, and not people whose antecedents are well known and are, therefore, predictable.

    “The CCII and Ibadan Elders have already supported the reform to the 1959 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration and nobody is ready to listen to them. The CCII is a social group. It should stick to what it is known for and stop speaking for all Ibadan sons and daughters, who are in support of the preservation of Ibadan culture heritage and norms.”

    On the solution to the logjam, Oladoja said: “The mogajis agreed that the cases in court should be allowed to go on; that the peace parley be composed of people with pedigree, those who have the fear of God at heart; most especially followers of the listed religious beliefs.”

    The mogajis urged the inspector-general of Police to tighten security around the monarch.

    He said: “Nothing untoward must happen to Oba Adetunji because we have cause to express worry over the tussle in the land.”

  • Olubadan: Gunmen distrup installation of Mogajis, others

    Olubadan: Gunmen distrup installation of Mogajis, others

    Unknown gunmen on Monday opened fire on the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, during installation of Mogajis and Baales.

    The four gunmen in a black Toyota Sienna opened fire repeatedly, shattering car glass windows of the Chieftain of Labour Party who was a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Sharafadeen Alli and other cars parked in front of the palace.

    Olubadan Palace
    The damaged cars during the crises at Olubadan Palace

    Journalists arriving at the gate of the palace at about 11:45 am, were caught in the fire but they escaped gunshots as they ducked in the drainage in front of the palace.

    The gunmen parked their car in front of the palace, shooting sporadically and daring people inside the palace compound to come out and confront them.

    However, the shooting did not stop the installation of the Mogajis and Baales.

    Photos:

    Olubadan
    Sympathizer at Olubadan Palace after the hoodlums attack Olubadan Palace. Photo by Femi Ilesanmi Ibadan

    Sympathizer at Olubadan Palace after the hoodlums attack Olubadan Palace
    Sympathizer at Olubadan Palace after the hoodlums attack Olubadan Palace. Photo by Femi Ilesanmi Ibadan

  • Mogajis back Olubadan chieftaincy law review

    The Ibadan Council of Recognised Mogaji has expressed support for the review of the Olubadan chieftaincy system by the Oyo State government.

    The government reviewed the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration last month and elevated baale and high chiefs to oba while the Olubadan of Ibadan became an imperial majesty.

    But some mogaji (family heads) have gone to court, challenging the propriety of the review because the review elevated baale above them.

    But the Ibadan Council of Recognised Mogaji issued a communique at the end of its meeting at the weekend at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital, saying the review was done in good faith.

    They noted that it elevated the throne of the Olubadan.

    The communique signed by its Chairman, Mogaji Asimiyu Adepoju Ariyori, and the Secretary, Mogaji Isiaka Raji Elegbaowo, reads: “There are no other recognised mogajis than the Ibadan Council of Recognised Mogajis. We found out that some faceless people are using the misunderstanding on the Ibadan chieftaincy reform as an opportunity to portray themselves as the authentic mogajis and thereby causing distraction.

    “We are not part of any rancour; neither are we interested in any crisis in Ibadan or a divided Ibadan. We want a united Ibadan and we are interested in the development of Ibadan land as well as that of our leaders.

    “We resolved that the chieftaincy reform was done in good faith and it brought elevation to our father, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Olubadan-in-Council, the baales and the people of Ibadan.

    “We want to assure the people of Ibadan that the reform was done in a right way. We solemnly support the governor. We are telling the government that it has our backing on the recent elevation of our father, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and our former high chiefs. We are interested in the elevation of our leaders but if the government engages in activities that belittle our leaders, we will not support the government.

    “We are not interested in anything that will destroy the peace in Ibadan. We are happy with what Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done and we want to assure our people that nothing has changed in the ascendancy structure of the Olubadan throne.

    “We want understanding of the people and we do not want the four dissidents, the so-called mogajis, to destabilise the peace in Ibadan as well as misinform the people. Anybody who is a traditional Mogaji-in-Ibadan will be among us. We do not want a crisis in Ibadan and we are appealing to the four mogajis, who are calling themselves authentic mogajis to desist from activities that can cause disharmony in the city.

    “We are not politicians; we are traditional chiefs of the city. They (the four mogajis) are politicians and that is why they cannot be with us. We wonder why four people will be more than us?

    “We, therefore, implore the government, our father, Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the newly created Obas-in-Council and elders in Ibadan to come together for the progress and development of Ibadan.”

  • Oluwo meets Olubadan as mogajis plan protest

    Oluwo meets Olubadan as mogajis plan protest

    Efforts by some Yoruba monarchs to broker peace in the crisis generated by the crowning of 21 obas by Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, have yielded some results.

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, yesterday visited the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    The meeting was held when members of the Authentic Ibadan Mogaji said they were preparing to protest their displeasure over what they described as “verbal assault” against the Olubadan stool by Governor Ajimobi.

    Besides the crowing of the kings, which the Olubadan and some mogaji are contesting in court, the group issued a seven-day ultimatum against the governor, following his appearance on a radio programme, that he once sent one of the Olubadan’s wives on love errands.

    The ultimatum will expire on Tuesday.

    During the Sunday visit, the Oluwo, after a two-hour meeting with the Olubadan, told reporters that the efforts were aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis by making peace with all parties.

    Noting that the efforts will examine how the traditional system will not be trampled upon as well as the power of the government not eroded, the monarch said his interaction with the Olubadan showed that the monarch wanted peace in Ibadan and desired to be in charge of his domain as far as traditional order was concerned.

    Oba Akanbi said: “The closed-door meeting was about how to make peace between all the parties concerned. We are looking at how the traditional system will not be rubbished and at the same time how the power of the government will not be eroded.

    “We want peace in Ibadan. From my discussion with the Olubadan, he wants peace and wishes to be in charge of his domain, as far as traditional order is concerned. No matter how small the size of a town or village, the leader would not want it to be destroyed.”

    The Oluwo assured Ibadan residents that an end was in sight to the crisis.

    The monarch said both sides would need to make sacrifices to resolve the misunderstanding.

    He said: “We cannot leave everything to the monarch. He needs the support of traditional leaders to arrive at a solution. According to the constitution, which must be respected, kings are under the government. This is to elevate the Olubadan and to make him a bigger king in Yoruba land. I will always support the traditional system in Yoruba land. I will always support the kingship and for us to resolve this stalemate.

    “I don’t care what politicians will think when I am a king and visiting another king having an issue right now. A matter like this cannot be politicised. It should be on how the traditional institution and government can be respected. Ajimobi is the head of government and Olubadan is the head of traditional institution in Ibadan.

    “We will have a sweet and juicy end as both parties will have to give. Both parties will laugh at the end of this initiative. We are gradually coming to the end of it. Thank God, the Olubadan is a king who listens. He does not accept bad advice because he has principles and the governor is also a son to the Olubadan.”

    Also, spokesman of the Authentic Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Wale Oladoja, who is also the Mogaji of Akinsola compound of Oopo Labiran in Ibadan, said the group had applied for a police permit for the protest.

    Oladoja, who claimed that the group had nothing against Ajimobi, said it only wanted the governor to separate governance from traditions and customs of the people.

    He said: “Our stand on the seven-days’ ultimatum remains intact. The governor must apologise for insulting the wife of our father and Olubadan of Ibadan over his recent comment on the wife of Olubadan. No intimidation can make us change our mind. We are the bona fide sons of Ibadan and nobody can dispute that.

    “All indigenes of Ibadan know their mogajis. So, nobody can deny that we represent our families. We won’t allow unconstitutional crowning of high chiefs to obas, and baales to kings. It is custom robbery and we won’t accept that. Above all, it is not possible and we won’t accept it.

    “The governor should allow the court to decide the fate of everyone involved in the Olubadan crisis and stop verbal vituperation against the person and stool of the Olubadan.”