The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has joined his ancestors.
He was 90.
The Nation learnt the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, passed away in the early hours of Monday, July 7, exactly one year after he ascended the throne.
The demise of Oba Olakulehin is coming barely two days after celebrating his 90th birthday.
Details shortly…
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.
“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.
The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola has re-assigned the case filed by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji against the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy laws by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to another judge.
The Governor had at the last hearing of the case before Justice Olajumoke Aiki of Court 10, sought the transfer of the case to another judge based on a judgement delivered by the presiding judge on a similar case, which was not in favor of the government.
The case which was due for ruling on the preliminary objections could not come up, Friday, as many of those who had stormed the Court were disappointed when they had of the development.
Sources hinted that the case had been transferred to Court 8 of the State High Court presided over by Justice Ogungbola.
The sources added that the implication of the development was that, the case will now start afresh.
more so, the case which was supposed to be mentioned Friday morning at the newly reassigned court could also not hold due to what the source described as “some unforseen circumstances” but adjourned till April 3rd, 2018.
Some of the counsels who were in court confirmed the transfer of the case and expressed confidence in the ability of Justice Adegbola to do justice on the matter.
The lead counsel to the claimant, Adeniyi Ajewole said his client has no issue with the transfer of the case adding that Oba Adetunji has absolute confidence in the court.
The Authentic Mogajis in Ibadan rose from a meeting on Monday and asked the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, not to have any peace meeting with Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, until the gunmen who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of Oba Adetunji are apprehended and brought to justice.
A truce committee was raised last week to midwife peace among the warring parties.
Those on the committee are the President of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, some members of Ibadan Elders’ Forum, religious leaders and opinion moulders, among others.
But the family heads at the end of their meeting told journalists they were making representations to the monarch and Ladoja to boycott the peace parley.
Their spokesman, Chief Wale Oladoja, said: “we deliberated extensively on last week’s attack on the palace, the peace parley and the security implications of the Oba’s palace invasion, among other issues.
“We are worried that a week after the incident and 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 the palace invaders?
“We align with the position of 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 Kabiyesi and High Chief Ladoja to stay away from such arrangement. We will welcome a situation whereby those mediating are the religious leaders of the three major faiths – 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 and they should stick to what they are known for and stop speaking for all Ibadan sons and daughters who are stoutly in support of the preservation of Ibadan cultural heritage and norms.”
A governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Mr Raufu Olaniyan, has received a royal blessing for his ambition from the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Olaniyan, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC), received the blessing when he visited the monarch at his Popoyemoja palace.
He informed the monarch of his ambition to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2019, explaining that his experience in the public service for three decades and the love to serve his people spurred him to join the race.
Olaniyan, who was a General Manager, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA), later retired as a permanent secretary.
He was welcomed to the palace by the Ekarun-un Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade.
While introducing the former OYSROMA boss to Oba Adetunji, the high chief described the aspirant as humanitarian, adding that he had helped a lot of people, not just in Ibadanland but the entire state.
He said as OYSROMA boss, Olaniyan supervised the construction of several roads within the Ibadan metropolis and all over the state.
High Chief Ajibade said aside his pedigree and commitment to service of humanity, Olaniyan is also a man of honesty and integrity.
He explained that Olaniyan was at the palace to receive the royal blessing of the Olubadan for his ambition in 2019, adding that at this time in the history of the state, Oyo needs an experienced technocrat like Olaniyan to preside over its affairs.
Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Olaniyan, who thanked the Olubadan for the audience, said his political philosophy was engineered towards the welfare of the people, noting that once the people are taken care of, meaningful development would naturally take place.
He said developing human capital through qualitative education would be the focal point of his administration, adding that he would also champion developmental projects that would be of benefits to the people, not in Ibadan alone, but the entire state.
Oba Adetunji prayed for the success of the aspirant’s ambition.
The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has said that 2,500 women will receive free screening for cancer, diabetes, blood pressure and malaria through her Pet Project, “Future Assumed’’, in Ibadan on Thursday.
Buhari made the disclosure in Ibadan on Wednesday when she visited Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Salisu Adetunji, in his palace.
She said that the screening had become necessary as it would enable them to know their health status early and improve their health.
Aisha reiterated that breast and cervical cancer, blood pressure, diabetes and malaria were major killer diseases across the global and could be prevented or managed through regular check-ups.
Buhari said she was in the state to introduce her programme on Women and Children Health Screening Initiative, which started last year with a view to improving their health.
The president’s wife said the programme which would be introduced in all states of the federation, had begun in some states.
She said that she wanted the programme to be replicated in the state so that women and children could have access to free medical screening.
Earlier, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi said Buhari had exhibited a quality similar to what a former First Lady of the U.S., Mrs Roseline Carter, did by contributing to development of women and children in the country in a short time.
He described Buhari was a great ambassador of Nigeria.
On his part, the Olubadan commended the president’s wife for choosing Ibadan as the centre to launch the programme in the Southwest Zone.
He promised that the programme would be given all necessary support to succeed.
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.
The Olubadan designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, has released his title for the throne.
He is to be referred to as Aje Ogungunniso 1.
The Olubadan-in-the waiting released the title on Wednesday and it now appears on the paraphernalia of office and items to be used for the coronation ceremony on Friday.
The title is believed to have emerged from his company’s name – Omo Aje Sound Studio, which he established in 1955.
The new monarch is a household name in music production and marketing.
He abandoned tailoring for music marketing several years ago.
On his record label are famous singers such as King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Alhaji Dauda Epo Akara and Sule Alao (Malaika).
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, is dead.
The monarch, who attained the age of 100 years in 2014, passed away Tuesday evening after he reportedly lost consciousness.
The Nation reliably gathered last night that the monarch’s corpse has been taken to a morgue as at press time.
Other details about Oba Odulana’s death were sketchy as at press time.
When contacted, one of his sons, Prof. Femi Lana, declined comments on the incident.
The Personal Assistant to the late monarch, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, however denied the death, saying it was a rumour. He said Oba Odulana still ate yesterday, adding that he was hale and hearty.
His death will throw the city into mourning after brouhaha over promotion of nine high chiefs on January 1 which pitted the Olubadan-In-Council against the state government.
Oba Odulana mounted the throne in 2007 as the 39th Olubadan of Ibadan land. He was the 17th Olubadan since the title was elevated from Baale Ibadan to the Olubadan in 1930. The first traditional ruler to bear the new title was Oba Okunola Abass who reigned from 1930-1946.
Next in line to the throne is the Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji.
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Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved the promotion of nine Ibadan high chiefs.
This followed the last night intervention of the Ibadan Elders Forum (IEF), which brokered peace in the simmering crisis between the governor and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, over the promotion.
The monarch elevated the high chiefs to their next rank on January 1, following the November deaths of Chief Sulaimon Omiyale, who was the Balogun of Ibadan and Chief Omowale Kuye, who was the Otun Olubadan.
They were next in line to the throne from both lines that produce the Olubadan of Ibadan.
The governor frowned at their promotion, saying it was in defiance to the government’s order to allow the chiefs go through security and medical examinations as stipulated by the Chieftaincy Law.
He, consequently, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the monarch on Monday to reverse the elevation of the chiefs or face sanctions.
The enlarged meeting held at the Agodi GRA residence of the IEF President, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, started at 6.34pm, when Governor Abiola arrived. It ended about an hour later.
The meeting was attended by many high chiefs but the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, did not attend.
Ladoja, according to a source, had travelled out of the state.
The elders in attendance include: former Head of Service of the Federation Prof Oladapo Afolabi; former President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Chief Bayo Oyero; former Commissioner for Information in Old Oyo State ýChief Adegboyega Arulogun; CCII President Chief Wole Akinwande; renowned industrialist Chief Bode Amoo; Chief Kola Daisi, Dr Lekan Are and the monarch’s son, Prince Femi Lana.
Saanu told reporters after the meeting that they had successfully resolved the crisis.
According to him, the governor had given a provisional approval for the Olubadan chiefs to retain their positions, but must follow the due process as stipulated in the extant law.
“We thank God for using the good elders of this land to resolve this issue peacefully in one accord. We have been having this meeting since 10am and immediately we summoned the governor, he answered us.
“After we have had a meeting with the governor in the morning, we later invited the affected chiefs to present their grievances to the governor themselves. It was only a misunderstanding and the matter has been resolved amicably. We are grateful to the governor and we promise that the chiefs will follow the regulations for their promotion,” he said.
Ajimobi said: “We thank God for the elders. Our elders are committed to peace in Ibadanland and our king has shown that he is a good monarch. He contributed to my success as governor. In this case, brothers are fighting and elders have intervened.
“There is no cause for further misunderstanding. We will perfect the papers because the issue has been resolved by men of impeccable character. Due process will now take place. Sometimes, you get married before perfecting the ceremony.
“The Ibadan chiefs have agreed to follow the due process and I have also given them provisional approval to retain their position. ”
Former Prelate of Methodist Church, Most Revd Sunday Ola Makinde, who was also in attendance, said God intervened.
He said: “The chiefs have agreed to follow the due process and the governor has given them provisional approval to retain their positions.”
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs, confirmed that the issue had been resolved. He said the Ibadan elders should be commended for intervening.
“We have all agreed with the governor because he is my brother and we are one family in Ibadan,” he said
The Ibadan Progressives Union (IPU), one of the strong bodies in the CCII, led by Rev Ademola Moradeyo, also held a separate meeting with Ajimobi yesterday on the matter.
The IPU members were also at last night’s meeting.