The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, and crown-wearing members of the Olubadan-In-Council have disagreed on the monarch’s order barring masquerades from dancing at the home of any high chief during this year’s Egungun Festival.
The Olubadan, in a statement on Sunday, suspended the visit of masquerades to the homes of the high chiefs, citing security reasons for his action.
But in a counter-move, the high chiefs-turned beaded kings described the order as arbitrary and an attempt to fight tradition.
In a statement by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, on behalf of others after their meeting yesterday, the kings insisted that they would resist the directive and host masqueraders in their homes.
The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the directive by our referred father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adetunji, that the usual annual masquerade dance in our homes would not hold this year due to a phantom security threat, a directive we reject in its entirety.
“As far as we are concerned, the directive was an arbitrary use of power and authority; we won’t take it. Our father (Olubadan) wants to distort and destroy the tradition and wants to use us to fight tradition. But we won’t succumb to his antics.
“The same Olubadan solicited for the hosting of the egungun authority from the late Oba Odugade Odulana when he was about five steps away from his present position and his request was granted.
“We, therefore, tend to ask: of what benefits would his outrageous order be to him? Except for extraneous reason, as we just pointed out, how can one explain that security would be threatened only when the masqueraders come to dance in our homes and not when they went to his palace?
“As members of Olubadan-in-Council, we were not part of the decision and we won’t take it and the egungun authority will not likely take it. It was our resolve that the Olubadan is trying to use everything to fight the government because the government has, among its responsibilities, the protection of the people’s tradition. But we will not allow ourselves to be used to either fight the government or the tradition.”
But the Aare Alagbaa of Ibadan, Chief Ojetunde Asoleke, said masqueraders in Ibadan would obey the directive of the Olubadan which barred them from visiting any high chief whose elevation to kingship status generated controversies and court actions.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and members of the Olubadan -In- Council, turned obas have disagreed on the order of the Olubadan barring the masquerades from dancing in any of the High Chiefs residence in this years Egungun festival.
The Olubadan, in a statement suspended the visit of egungun to any of the High Chiefs, citing security reasons for his action.
But, in a counter move, the concerned high chiefs-turned beaded kings had kicked against the Olubadan instruction, describing it as arbitrary use of power and an attempt to fight tradition.
In a statement signed by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, on behalf of others after their meeting on Monday, the kings insisted that they would resist the order and host masqueraders in their various homes. They also described security reason given by the monarch as phantom.
The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to the directive by our referred father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adetunji, that the usual annual masquerade dance in our residences would not hold this year due to a phantom security threat, a directive we reject in its entirety.
“As far as we are concerned, the directive was arbitrary use of power and authority, we won’t take it. Our father (Olubadan) wants to distort and destroy the tradition and wants to use us to fight tradition, but, we won’t succumb to his antics. The same Olubadan solicited for the hosting of the Egungun authority from the late Oba Odugade Odulana when he was about five steps away from his present position and his request was granted.
“We therefore tend to ask him that of what benefits would his outrageous order be to him? Except for extraneous reason as we just pointed out, how can one explain that security would be threatened only when the masqueraders come to dance in our residences and not when they went to his palace?
“As the members of Olubadan-in-Council, we were not part of the decision and we won’t take it and the Egungun authority will not likely take it. It was our resolve that the Olubadan is trying to use everything to fight the government, because the government has among its responsibilities the protection of the people’s tradition, but, we will not allow ourselves to be used to either fight the government or the tradition.”
However, the Aare Alagbaa of Ibadan land, Chief Ojetunde Asoleke, has said that masqueraders in Ibadan will obey the directive of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, which barred them from visiting any of the high chiefs whose elevation to kingship status generated controversies and court actions.
Speaking during the visits of the masqueraders to the monarch palace, Asoleke said they would abide by whatever the king directed.
He said, “Whatever the Olubadan said is what we are solidly behind. Olubadan gave us the order that we should not go to any of the High Chiefs to dance and we are not going there because Olubadan is the head of all traditional worshippers in Ibadanland, be it Egungun, Sango, Oya, Obatala, Osun or whatever. And being the head, he has the right to tell us what is proper to do, and whoever that does otherwise will be punished by the Olubadan himself.”
In a message through his Personal Assistant and Director, Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko to the visiting masqueraders, the Olubadan enjoined them to observe a peaceful festival devoid of violence.
He said, “It is God in His infinite mercy that has preserved all of us to witness this year’s festival. The festival is to celebrate the best of our cultures and traditions. Therefore the Kabiyesi is telling everyone in Ibadan to celebrate in peace. There should be no use of dangerous weapons as law enforcement agents are not going to take kindly to it, and Kabiyesi is not going to come between the law enforcement agents and the thugs if anyone is arrested. Therefore, we should celebrate in peace and joy.”
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, has ordered that there will no longer be masquerade dance for any Ibadan high chief this year.
The annual festival in the ancient city begins today in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Since the time of the late Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe in 1976, masquerades used to pay homage to selected high chiefs in their family compounds with the permission of the Olubadan.
Although no reason was given for the last minute suspension of masquerade dance for the high chiefs, it was learnt that the decision of the frontline monarch might not be unconnected with security matters arising from the controversial chieftaincy review that confers kingship without domain on high chiefs.
Rising from a two-hour security meeting with stakeholders at his Popoyemoja place at the weekend, Oba Adetunji said the decision was in the overall public interest.
A statement by the Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs to the monarch, Mr Adeola Oloko, said: “As the chief custodian of our culture and tradition, I also owe it a duty to work in tandem with the law enforcement agents not to turn the celebration of our custom and tradition into a theatre of war.”
The Olubadan, who hailed security operatives for a hitch-free Oke’Badan Festival last March, urged them to raise the bar during the Egungun Festival later this year.
He appealed to other stakeholders to cooperate with law enforcement agents by operating within the ambit of the law.
Those at the meeting are: A. O. Abimbola, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who represented Oyo State Police Commissioner; Dan Miller, another ACP of the Criminal Investigation and Investigation Department (CIID) at Iyaganku in Ibadan; Mrs. B. T. Agboola, who represented the State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and five Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Mokola, Yemetu, Mapo, Idi Aro and Agugu.
Leaders of masquerades association in Ibadan, the Alagbaa, Baale Labala and others also attended the meeting.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has urged Muslim faithful not to allow the end of the Holy month of Ramadan deter them from doing good.
A statement by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko, noted that Ramadan teaches abstinence, not only from food and drinks but also from wilful commission of sins.
According to him, in the month of Ramadan, people tend to share and care more for one another.
“Good works should not begin and end in the holy month of Ramadan. It should be an everyday affair,” he said.
The Olubadan praised non-Muslims for supporting and sponsoring Ramadan programme out of respect for their Muslim brothers, noting “such gesture must not go unmentioned in our determination to curb religious extremism.”
He appealed to Nigerians to celebrate in peace and live in harmony.
The traditional ruler prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders at various levels of government.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, has said the story credited to him on Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s “third term” was largely misunderstood.
The frontline monarch said he did not use the words literally but figuratively, adding that he was surprised many people could not read between the lines.
Oba Adetunji spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, while hosting hundreds of Ibadan indigenes who paid homage at his Popoyemoja palace as part of activities marking this year’s Ibadan Week.
In a statement by his spokesman Adeola Oloko, the first-class monarch noted that what appeared simple and straightforward could sometimes be pregnant with meanings.
He said the discerning would understand the complexity in the simplicity of his statement.
Oba Adetunji urged aggrieved residents not to take the matter out of context but to read more about the use of language, idioms and sarcasm.
He added: “As a monarch, I have no power over the election and re-election of anybody, not to talk of tenure extension, which is unconstitutional. Besides, when I was exchanging banters with the governor, I was only cracking a joke with him as a son and subject.
“Even, if Governor Ajimobi offended us, it would be indecorous on my part to address him harshly. Besides, there is a subsisting judgment over the controversial chieftaincy review, which awaits compliance. About four or five suits relating to the matter are still in court and have not been withdrawn.”
The Olubadan also denied receiving any gratification from Ajimobi or his proxies for cracking the third term joke, as being insinuated in some quarters.
He said if anybody had demonstrable evidence, he should produce it.
The first Vice President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Dr. Lasisi Balogun, who stood in for the President-General, Chief Yemi Soladoye, congratulated the monarch on his second coronation anniversary.
He said CCII was making progress in the protection of the ancient city’s boundaries.
The chief said work on the new Olubadan palace was expected to complete as soon as more funds were made available.
THE Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has said the “unprecedented” achievements of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi qualify him for another term, if not for constitutional impediment that restricts governors to two terms.
Also, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, expressed “surprise” at the pace of road construction and other projects across Oyo State, despite the economic downturn in the country.
The first-class monarchs lauded the governor for what they called his outstanding performances in all the zones of the state since his assumption of office about seven years ago.
They spoke yesterday at a meeting the governor held with traditional rulers at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan, the state capital.
Ajimobi reportedly invited the monarchs to lay on the table his scorecard on development across the state and his future plans to sustain his administration’s Transformation Agenda.
The Olubadan said he openly expressed appreciation to the governor for what he called his unrelenting efforts to bring development to all parts of the state.
He said: “The Yoruba don’t appreciate themselves except to abuse and criticise. But when someone has done well, we must say it. I am talking about what I have seen so far. In view of this, I would have loved him (Ajimobi) to go for another term, if not that the constitution does not allow it.
“The governor has performed very well. He has recorded unprecedented achievements worthy of commendation. This is the only way to spur him into greater performance for the benefit of the state.”
Oba Adeyemi said Ajimobi should be praised for all he had achieved since the beginning of his administration, despite the dwindling allocations from the Federation Account and paltry internally-generated revenue (IGR).
He said: We can only commend you for all you have been able to achieve in the last seven years. We are very impressed with your performance. At the appropriate time, we will comprehensively, sufficiently and adequately respond to your address.
“The only thing you are not telling us is where you have been getting the money to do all the projects. I have had to engage you in a private discussion on this, to ask how you source the money you have been using to execute the projects since you are not printing money.
“But the governor has allayed my fears. He explained to me that most of the projects were contractor-financed and that the money would be paid back under very convenient terms. He has assured me that he would not plunge the state into huge debts.”
The Chief Judge (CJ) of Oyo State will reassign the case filed by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, against Governor Abiola Ajimobi on the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration Law.
Justice Olajumoke Aiki of an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday returned the case file to the CJ for reassignment, following an application filed by the governor through his lawyer Mr. Nurudeen Adegboye.
The application requested for a reassignment to another judge in the interest of fair hearing.
Oba Adetunji joined 23 others as respondents in the suit.
They are: the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, eight out of the 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council installed as beaded-crown wearing monarchs by the state government and the 13 baales (village heads) also installed as coronet-wearing kings on the same day.
The 21 new kings were enthroned in Ibadan on August 27, last year.
The case was listed for ruling on the preliminary objections raised by Ajimobi and other defendants that Olubadan did not have locus standi to file the matter.
Justice Aiki averred that the CJ would exercise his discretionary powers on the case file because he is the judicial, administrative head and the assigning authority of the court.
The case file was sent back to the CJ after the arguments for and against the application by the parties in the matter.
Counsel to Ajimobi and the two commissioners in the case, Nurudeen Adegboye, told reporters that the letter was written “because our client believes that the case on which judgment has been delivered arose from the same subject matter with the Olubadan’s”.
Having delivered a judgment on the other case, he said it was clear that the judge made his position known on the issues pending before the court.
Counsel to the fourth to 11th defendants, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed, and counsel to the 12th to the 24th defendants, Kunle Sobaloju, aligned with the application.
They urged the court to await the CJ’s decision before taking further steps on the matter.
But the Olubadan’s lawyer Niyi Ajewole said the application was an attempt to arrest the court’s ruling.
The lawyer said Oba Adetunji would eventually get justice in the matter.
A fortnight ago, Justice Aiki delivered a judgment in the case filed by the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on the same subject, declaring the enthronement a nullity.
The 21 new obas enthroned last year on the heels of the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration will meet today to react to the judgment of the State High Court, which dethroned them.
The meeting, which will hold at the historic Mapo Hall, will review last Friday’s court verdict and seek the best way forward.
An Oyo State High Court, last Friday, declared the panel which reviewed the chieftaincy declaration and other activities it produced as illegal, meaning that the crowned 21 obas, following the review of the chieftaincy declaration, would forfeit their crowns, if the judgment is not upturned.
The new obas have expressed their support for the decision of the Oyo State government, the major respondent in the matter, to appeal the judgment.
A source close to the new obas, who operate under the aegis of Ibadan Council of Obas, as against the Olubadan-in-Council, said today’s meeting will review recent activities and take a position for a resolution.
According to the source, the new obas stand firmly with state government on the review because the act was overdue.
The source added that there are facts and provisions in the declaration that are unknown to the public, some of which the council can use to correct the situation.
The Friday judgment will jeopardise the ongoing reconciliation efforts initiated by Ibadan Elders and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes.
Both groups set up a reconciliation team, headed by Dr Lekan Are, last month.
It was learnt that the committee had started meeting with the parties in the crisis, though encountering brick-walls because one of the parties refused to shift ground.
The government has begun the process of appeal, The Nation gathered yesterday.
AN Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, yesterday declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies Laws in Ibadanland by the Oyo State Government as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect.
The court headed by Justice Olajumoke Aiki delivered the judgment in a case filed by a former governor who is also the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja against Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and Justice Akintunde Boade, the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry that reviewed the chieftaincy declaration.
It will be recalled that Governor Ajimobi had on Friday May 19, 2017 set up a judicial commission of enquiry to review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies laws in Ibadanland.
Accordingly, a report was submitted by the panel on August 2017 and a White Paper on the report was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 on August 23, 2017, while the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincies and related matters was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol. 42 on August 24, 2017.
Another government committee was later set up to review the report and recommendations of the committee.
The process brought about the installation of 21 new (obas) kings in Ibadanland by the government on Sunday August 27, 2017 at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan amidst drums and fanfare.
The 21 new kings comprised eight members of the Olubadan-in-Council elevated from ‘High Chiefs’ to beaded crown wearing monarchs while the remaining 13 are village heads (Baales) promoted to coronet wearing obas.
Ladoja, who refused to accept the beaded crown, had filed two cases against the review at the state High Court.
He jointly filed the initial suit with his immediate senior on the Otun Olubadan chieftaincy line, Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the Otun Olubadan and most senior chief on the Otun line. Balogun backed out of the case later. However, Ladoja alone filed the second case.
In the first case, the duo sued the state government over the constitution of the commission in May, this year. They listed the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry inaugurated by the government on Friday May 19, 2017 to review the system, as defendants before an Oyo State High Court.
The claimants prayed the court, in the suit number M/317/2017, to restrain the commission from sitting, accepting any memorandum or in any way taking any step in furtherance of its assignment, pending the determination of motion on notice in respect of the subject.
However, in the second suit, Ladoja asked the court to set aside the report of the commission and prayed the court to nullify the proceedings of the panel and its reports.
The court, in the judgment held that wearing of beaded crowns are beyond the purview of Sections 10,12 and 25 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, stating that Section 25 of the chiefs law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws
The court also said provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws, particularly Sections 10, 12 and 25 did not give power to the governor to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
The governor, according the court, exercised his power beyond the constitution and the provisions of the Chiefs Laws made by the House of Assembly, adding that a judicial commission of enquiry could not amend or further amend, review or further review the chieftaincy declaration.
The lead counsel to the claimant, Michael Lana, represented by Mr Babatunde Akinola told newsmen simply that “the judgment was okay.”
The state government however disclosed that it would appeal the judgment.
It expressed disagreement with the interpretation of the law on the issue and vowed to explore legal remedies.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, disclosed that the state will appeal against the judgment of an Ibadan High Court, which sets aside the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and Other Related Chieftaincies.
The governor bared his mind during the inauguration of a block of classrooms donated to the Community Secondary School, Ajara, in Lagelu local government area of the state by a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, in Ajara, on Friday.
Ajimobi used the opportunity to restate his earlier position that the review, which culminated in the August 27, 2017 installation of 21 new obas, among whom were some erstwhile high chiefs and baales, was an altruistic gesture that was for the overall good of Ibadanland.
Ajimobi said: “Today’s judgment on the Olubadan Chieftaincy review will be appealed against immediately. Let me reiterate here that the review was an exercise that was well thought out. It is for the development and progress of Ibadanland and the people therein.
“We will not relent in our determination to make Ibadan great and the greatness shall come through various ways; one of which was the Olubadan chieftaincy review that was conducted by a judicial commission of inquiry.
“The truth is that people are normally opposed to change and radical policies that will eventually be beneficial to them, but we shall get there. We will not be deterred or allow retrogressive tendencies to override the progress Oyo State is currently making.”
The governor commended Olujinmi for giving back to his place of birth and called on others of means to emulate the gesture, which, he said, would go a long way to complement the efforts of the government in developing the education sector.
Meanwhile, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, has described the judgment as a victory for Ibadan indigenes.
Ajimobi and Olubadan
Ladoja, in a statement signed by his media aide, Lanre Latinwo, said it was not a personal victory for him because what motivated the suit he filed was the need to preserve the custom and tradition of Olubadan throne system.
He said: “The judgment has vindicated us as purists who abhor any contamination of a rancor-free succession process that has become the envy of many cities all over the world. I do not in any way see it as a personal victory.
“The Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration was made in 1957 and registered with the then Western Region government. It was made by a chieftaincy committee headed by the then Olubadan, Oba I.B Akinyele.
“If in compliance with the extant laws at that time, the Western Region government saddled the then Olubadan-headed committee with making the Declaration, why would the state government in 2017 raise a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to do same?
“We agree totally with the court that the Commission lacked the power to review the Declaration. I commend the Olubadan for standing to be counted on the side of truth and justice. History has obviously booked an enviable chapter for him.”
Efforts had however been made by various stakeholders to ensure amicable resolution of the matter with the setting up of a truth and reconciliation committee before the latest court ruling.
An Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, has fixed February 12 for hearing on a suit filed by Chief Adebayo Oyediji, challenging the installation of Oba Saliu Adetunji, as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Oyediji of Seriki chieftaincy line and three others, were challenging the installation of Adetunji by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.
The other claimants in the suit were Chief Olalekan Fakunle, Chief Rasheed Abinupagun and Chief Gabriel Amao.
Justice Moshood Abass on Wednesday fixed February 12 for hearing of the suit after the claimants’ counsel, Mr Sarafadeen Adebayo informed the court that all processes needed in prosecuting the case had been filed by both parties.
Abass ordered that hearing notices be served on the counsel to the respondents because they were not present in court on Wednesday.
The claimants’ counsel, Adebayo, had earlier informed the court that the counsel to Olubadan, Mr Michael Lana and Oyo State Government’s counsel, Mr Adegboyega Salawu were trying to delay the matter.
He said that the respondents’ counsel were present in court on the last adjourned date of Dec. 15, 2017, where Jan.10 was agreed for the closing of the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC).
The claimants are claiming that it was the turn of Seriki chieftaincy line to produce the next Olubadan after the death of Oba Samuel Lana, against the appointment of Adetunji by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
The claimants are also challenging the consistent occupation of the Olubadan throne by the Olubadan chieftaincy line and Balogun chieftaincy lines while excluding the Seriki line.
It would be recalled that the claimant’s counsel, Adebayo, had told the court that there was a subsisting court ruling restraining the occupation of any vacant position of high chiefs and that of Olubadan.
The other respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Oyo State Government.
