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Tag: Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji

  • Olubadan to Obas: remove your crowns and return to palace

    THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 , yesterday replied to the allegations levelled against him by the estranged members of his council.

    The high chiefs, led by the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, accused the monarch of denigrating the Olubadan institution by what they described as “illegal practices and apparent lack of regards for the council”.

    But, the Olubadan, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said there was no truth in the allegation raised against him by the Obas.

    The foremost traditional ruler said he has no objection to the return of his embattled high chiefs to the palace once they remove their “illegal crowns”.

    According to him, the statement credited to the embattled chiefs lacked substance.

    The Olubadan said contrary to the allegations, he was not responsible in the first instance for their desertion from the palace and by so doing, abdicating their responsibilities to Ibadanland.

    He also stated that rather than engaging in blame game, the embattled high chiefs, who, he alleged, were afraid of what is likely to befall them after May 29, when power would have changed hands, should have been bold enough to apologise to the people of Ibadan  and Yorubaland for allegedly undermining their customs and tradition.

    Describing the crowns of the high chiefs as offensive to the customs and tradition of Ibadanland, the Olubadan said there was nowhere in Yorubaland, where two kings sit inside a palace.

    He added that “it is always the king and his chiefs”.

    “Apart from violating our customs and tradition, there is no law that backs the wearing of illegal crowns in Ibadanland,” he said.

    REad also: Olubadan: new Iyalode to be installed soon

    Oba Adetunji noted that he had expected the high chiefs to comply with the Oyo State High Court judgment, which declared the state government’s reform that produced the crowns as illegal, null, void and of no effect.

    The royal father accused the high chiefs of lobbying to approve through the backdoor the crowns that the court had out-rightly rejected.

    Oba Adetunji stated that if the people of Ibadan had signified their preference the crowns, he would have long ago approved them.

    He said contrary to allegation by the high chiefs, he had done no wrong nor acted illegally.

    The monarch added that despite efforts made to hinder the smooth-running of the palace by the high chiefs and their promoters, they must begin to wonder why the palace had begun to grow from strength to strength.

    Oba Adetunji stated that the high chiefs exhibited little or no knowledge of Ibadan custom and tradition, when they accused him of installing Mogajis and Baales without recourse to them.

    According to him, Section 22 (2) of the Chiefs Law, Cap 28 Law of Oyo State 2000 makes the Olubadan the prescribed and consenting authority on all chieftaincy matters in Ibadanland.

    The first class monarch argued that the Olubadan-in-Council is merely an advisory council without any power whatsoever.

    According to Olubadan, “if anybody should be castigated for denigrating our institution, it is the embattled high chiefs with inordinate ambition to become monarch without domain that should examine themselves. It is those who commit crime against Yoruba customs and tradition and do not repent that deserve to be castigated.

    “It is those who run away from the palace and turn round to say they are not carried along. It is those who flagrantly disobey court orders. It is the chiefs who are sent to represent the Olubadan at the Local Government Traditional Councils but seize Olubadan’s salaries that have violated our customs and tradition.”

  • Olubadan to high chiefs: You are entertainers of the year

    Olubadan to high chiefs: You are entertainers of the year

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 Tuesday described the purported threat of 21 new Ibadan kings to recommend him for removal as an affront to the people of Ibadan.

    The traditional ruler also referred to the 21 kings as entertainers of the year even as he declared that they (21 new kings) lacked the powers to unseat the Olubadan.

    In a press release issued, signed and made available to The Nation Tuesday by the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the Olubadan , Mr Adeola Oloko , Oba Adetunji stated that ‘the so-called Oba-in-Council ‘ was unknown to the Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws, and wondered how a group of educated individuals such as the embattled high chiefs could resort to illegality by commenting on a matter before the court.

    Hearing continues Wednesday 13 December at the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan in a suit filed by the Olubadan against the Oyo State Government on the controversial chieftaincy review.

    Oba Adetunji who has pleaded with the court to take judicious notice of the persistent contempt of court on the matter before it by the defendants in recent times, is of the opinion that if a scape goat is not made of at least one or two culprits, there may be no end to court contempt.

    On the issue raised by the Oba-in-Council; Olubadan contended that the council in question which comprises high chiefs and Olubadan only is basically an advisory council with no force of law, customs and traditions backing it.

    ” In the same vein, Baale whom the embattled high chiefs have added to themselves to become 21 are not members of Olubadan-in-Council and therefore should not be dressed in borrowed robe, as they have no power whatsoever over their lord, ”  the frontline Oba said.

    According to Oba Adetunji, as the prescribed and appointing authority , he can promote and/or peg the promotion of an high chief as long as he wishes .

    But he added that he did not contemplate any such decision as he does not see himself as an absolute monarch.

    Oba Adetunji contended further that there was no time that the embattled high chiefs were barred from attending palace activities, adding that they were the ones who spurned palace invitation in their desperate rush for multiple crowns and cheap royalties.

    He expressed delight that despite their absence from official palace activities, the Olubadan had been exercising his duties without let or hindrance.

    The Olubadan stated that even when they were being harassed and molested in the city streets and called unprintable names, he has been trying his level best to calm down frayed nerves in order to guarantee their safety and security by going to court to diffuse tension.

    Oba Adetunji stated that as the Yoruba proverb says that okro can never outgrow its reaper, an high chief can’t outgrow the king by threatening to recommend him for removal.

    “By custom and tradition, no Olubadan has been recommended for removal from office by any high chief or group of high chiefs at any time and my own reign will not be an exception. At least, we have received applications from families of about four of the embattled high chiefs asking for their immediate replacement. But, like a prodigal son, we hope that they would sooner than later renounce the unrecognized crowns and return to the warm embrace of their father as the palace door is perpetually open. The high chiefs are hereby advised to emulate high chiefs in other places, who are not wearing crowns but still earn respect of their people for peace and progress to reign supreme in the land, ” he said.

    He , however , urged the high chiefs not to exercise fears yet, as their seats would not be declared vacant in the absence of court verdict.

  • Masquerade mayhem: Olubadan vows to expose perpetrators

    Masquerade mayhem: Olubadan vows to expose perpetrators

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 Monday vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of Sunday’s bloody mayhem during the Egungun (masquerade) festival in the city face the full wrath of the law.

    The royal father who described the bloody violence as very unfortunate expressed utter displeasure over the mayhem which attended the outing of Ege masquerade in Ibadan.

    He promised to expose the perpetrators and ensure justice is melted out to culprits.

    An unconfirmed sourced said about eight people were killed , while several others sustained varying degree of injuries .

    Also, properties worth unestimated amount of money were destroyed when street urchins hijacked the celebration of Ibadan customs and tradition and turned it into mayhem.

    In a statement issued and signed by the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the monarch, Mr Adeola Oloko said the traditional ruler was shocked with the development despite several meetings and warning with the stakeholders before the egungun festival, some people still went around disobeying the law by inflicting violence on innocent citizens.

    Oba Adetunji who sympathised with the incident victims and their families promised that the perpetrators would not escape the full weight of the law.

    Commenting on why he refused Ege masquerade from entering into the palace, Oba Adetunji stated that the palace officials were not informed that he was coming at the said date and time.

    He also said the masquerade does not belong to the category of masquerades that visit the palace of Olubadan and high chief’s homes.

    He however said while the palace of Olubadan is open to all and sundry, including egungun, the rule is that the Olubadan and his chiefs must be informed in advance for adequate preparations to be put in place to receive them.

    Meanwhile, Oloolu masquerade that is slated to visit the Olubadan today had been advised to keep away for fear of reprisal attack.

    It would be recalled that Ege masquerade that is expected to come out once in three years is known for his large, uncontrollable crowd and attendant violence.

    ” We were adequately informed that his supporters were believed to have unleashed violence even before reaching the palace at Idi Arere, so it is not true that the violence occurred because he was not allowed entry into the palace as being speculated in some quarters” , he said.

     

  • Olubadan installs new Iyaloja amidst controversy

    Olubadan installs new Iyaloja amidst controversy

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 has said that there is no parallel Iyaloja in Ibadan, contrary to speculation in some quarters.

    According to him, following the appointment and installation of Alhaja Iswat Abiola Ameringun as the new Iyaloja of Ibadanland on Monday at the Olubadan Palace, Popyemoja, Ibadan, the former occupant has ceased to be the market leader.

    Said he; “ If any other person  parades herself as the Iyaloja, such person would be running the risk of impersonation, which is an offence punishable under the laws of the land.”

    The first class monarch made it clear that the Olubadan is the prescribed and appointing authority on different categories of chiefs in Ibadanland, including Iyaloja and Babaloja.

    This clarification has become necessary following an interview Mrs. Labake Lawal granted an Ibadan-based radio station today Monday, claiming the same title.

    The traditional ruler said: “The only person who has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Iyaloja of Ibadan is Chief (Mrs) Ameringun following the recommendation of the Market Advisory Council, and she has accordingly been issued a certificate to that effect.

    “This new certificate has invalidated any previous certificate issued to anyone.”

    The Olubadan further refuted the claim by the deposed Iyaloja that she was wrongly removed by a High Chief in Ibadanland.

    The monarch explained that it was not true that one High Chief removed the old Iyaloja as she claimed in the interview, adding that no High Chief is vested with the power to remove or install and the installation rites of the new Iyaloja was done at the Olubadan-in-Council meeting.

  • NLC ultimatum: Ajimobi dares workers

    NLC ultimatum: Ajimobi dares workers

    Following the industrial action threatened by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter over five months unpaid worker’s salaries by the state government, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has disclosed that he is not disturbed by the threat, vowing that any workers that goes on strike will not be paid his salary.

     

    He promised not to review the 90 per cent income that is dedicated for the payment of workers salary from Federation Account.

     

    He said the call by the NLC to add the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) with the 90 per cent income from the federal allocation to pay the workers’ salary will not be possible at the moment.

     

    Ajimobi spoke on Monday at the stakeholders meeting between the state government, Chairman Caretaker committees of 33 council areas in the state and traditional rulers on the economic diversification project held at House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

     

    The governor said: “It was agreed that about 90 per cent of income accruing from the State’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account should be dedicated to the workers while the remaining ten percent would be deployed to the running of other aspects of governance.”

     

    He noted that till date, the state government has not reneged on the letter and spirit of that agreement, adding that the ultimatum issued by Labour is not only surprising but unnecessary and uncalled-for in the prevailing circumstance.

     

    According to him, government cannot be paying only the 62,000 workers in the state with the money that ought to be used to maintain over 10 million citizens in the state.

     

    “Modern day labour union and government relationship has listed steps that must be taking. Step one is that if you have any concern about anything, there is a joint negotiation committee that is made up of government and workers, you first go there to discuss with them and if after the discussion it does not work then you can go to the next level where the head of service and government will now appoint some people to discuss. It is when negotiations have broken down that labour can give notice of strike actions and not this old time labour government relationship where without discussing you will issue ultimatum to go on strike.

     

    “It is illegal because this is a government where law must be followed and obeyed, not this culture of impunity. It is wrong to give an ultimatum to go on strike without reaching a consensus with the government. We have an agreement, there was a time we use to get close to N5 billion from federal government and our IGR was like N1 billion, now everybody is aware of the Nigeria situation, and now we are having N2 billion plus from federal government.”

     

    He urged the labour leaders to sit down and negotiate with the government, vowing that worker that goes on strike without following due process will not be paid his or her salary.

     

    Speaking on the need for agrarian revolution in the state, Ajimobi said the state is blessed with 28,544 kilometre per square of land, adding that the state has the most fertile land in Southern Nigeria.

     

    He said:” The only way out of the present economic meltdown in the state is through agricultural revolution and that is why we need the support of the traditional rulers, local government chairmen and all the citizens of the state. We shall embark on massive mechanize farm in 28 local government areas with arable lands in the state.

     

    In his remarks, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji appealed to labour leaders not to embark on strike but should be considerate and embrace the condition of the state government.

     

    “The economic situation in the country is not only affecting Oyo State but th country at large. This is why the governor is also going into economic diversification by venturing into agricultural revolution. We shall support him and it will be a success.

     

    Similarly, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III also pledged his support for agricultural development in the state.

     

    Oba Adeyemi also used the opportunity to appeal to labour leaders in the state to avoid industrial action that could lead to confrontation with the state government.

     

    “The government has tried his best allocating 90 per cent of the federal allocation to pay the worker’s salary. The labour leaders only need to be patient and considerate,” he said.