Tag: Olubadan

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has said the crowd at his coronation scared him.

Adetunji spoke in his palace yesterday when Bishop Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministry visited him.

“On my coronation day, I was afraid. I wept and I thought I was going to die,” he said.

The monarch, who said he never dreamt of becoming the Olubadan, added that he was brought up by the late Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanke.

“I never knew I will be Olubadan when I was under him, but years after his death, I was installed as the monarch,” he said.

Oke condemned the incessant kidnapping of clergymen.

He said: “They have turned kidnapping into a business.

“I read in the papers that three clergymen in Kaduna were kidnapped and their abductors are demanding for N100 million.

“I appeal that they should be released immediately.”

The bishop said government at all levels must make kidnapping a capital offence, adding that: “if you kidnap anybody and you are caught, then you are gone.”

On the reason for his visit, the cleric said he was in the palace to congratulate the Olubadan and to pray for longitivity and sound health for him.

“I came here to congratulate the Olubadan on his installation and to also let him know that he has a son among the men of God in the country,” he said.

Oke prayed that Oba Adetunji’s tenure would be prosperous, with the ancient city witnessing economic prosperity.

The bishop also called on Nigerians to be patient with the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the irregularities in the  University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“I don’t support the public clamour for the scrapping of JAMB because you don’t throw out the baby with the bath water,” he said.

Septuagenarians hardly emerge as the Olubadan of Ibadan, let alone younger candidates. But a silent reform is taking roots to open up opportunities for younger Ibadan indigenes to become Olubadan. BISI OLADELE unfolds the silent reform and gauges its acceptance among notable indigenes.

Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa, was agog yesterday as a new man mounted the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadan land. It was the coronation of the 87-year old Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, a music marketer, as the 41st Olubadan.

Adetunji succeeded a centenarian, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, who died at the age of 101 years on January 19.

Oba Odulana’s predecessors were also either octogenarians or nonagenarians.

The unique chieftaincy system of the town where chiefs gain ascendancy to the throne by promotion accounts for the reason virtually every Olubadan is an old man. For instance, Oba Adetunji became Mogaji in 1976 and gained promotion to the line towards Olubadan  two years later when he became the Jagun. 38 years after, he mounted the throne. Promotion occurs when an occupant of any of the cadres dies.

This system also makes every indigene of Ibadan a potential Olubadan. Once a clan presents an individual as a Mogaji, he is qualified to gain promotion to the position of Jagun from where he ascends the throne gradually.

But the stage is set to embrace a change that will see younger candidates ascending the throne. The change is being driven by high flying indigenes who are worried about the dark side of always having aged candidates ascending the throne.

The change is being silently coordinated by Ibadan elders and other stakeholders who believe that the throne deserves to be occupied by younger oba as witnessed in many other Yoruba towns.

The young obas in Yoruba land include the Elegushi of Ikate land, Lagos, Oba Saheed Elegushi; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi.

The reform

Though the reform that will see younger people emerge as the Olubadan in the future is not necessarily documented as a law, the elders have pushed for appointment of younger persons as Mogaji by the clans.

The unwritten rule, which has already been gaining ground in the last 10 years, includes appointment of only individuals that are in their 20s and 30s, and who are graduates, as Mogajis.

In an interaction with The Nation, the President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the umbrella body for all associations and groups of Ibadan indigenes, Chief Wole Akinwande, explained part of the reform.

He said: “The fact is that the process of becoming Olubadan is long. You start from becoming the head of your own clan which we call Mogagi and out of every Mogagi, there are only two possible positions from the Jagun which is the take-off point.  The lines are Otun Olubadan and Balogun. We can have 200 Mogaji jostling for the position when it becomes vacant. By the time you become a Mogaji in your own clan, you may be over 50 years and to be able to become Jagun will take another five years and the waiting on the average is about 30 to 35 years to become the Olubadan.  So, when you add 35 to 55 years, you will see that one is already old. What we are saying now is to allow younger people to become Mogaji so that by the time they will be 70 years plus, they will mount the throne. The present process is very difficult for you to ascend the throne before age 50, and the system cannot be changed overnight.

“What we are thinking is that each step on the lines to the Olubadan can be reduced and they will allow younger people to become Mogaji. This might make things faster. But I am sure in the next three to five years, there will be changes.The CCII is instrumental in this reform and we are like the elite and a coordinating voice. We are in the heart of the reform and we pray it works. It’s not for discussion publicly now, but I am sure when it reaches the final step, it will be made public.”

Another aspect of the reform is the stoppage of conversion of personal residences to a palace on ascending the throne.

According to Akinwande, the council has succeeded in overcoming that by the construction of a central palace at Oke Are. The palace was a N4 billion project.

Stressing that the palace is near completion, Akinwande regretted that the coronation of the new Olubadan did not take place at the new palace and that Oba Adetunji could not move into it immediately.

His words: “The project is at Oke Aremo and it is about 10 hectares. The first one comprises the palace and some facilities. The palace has been roofed and plastered. We need to do the ceiling, flooring and painting  before it can be occupied.

We pray that the new Olubadan moves in there as quickly as possible. We are not even happy that the installation is not taking place there because if it can be ready before, then it would have been good. I hope that the new Olubadan will stay in his house for a while before moving to the new palace. Our prayer is that before the end of the year, he will move to this place.”

Asked if the new palace would still be a matter of choice or preference for new and future Olubadan, the CCII president said: “The facilities in the palace make it convenient for them to stay there. There is a presidential wing for the Olubadan; there is an office facility for the Olubadn-in-Council, the reception, including a clinic, parking space and security post, among others.

“The palace is designed in a way that will be irresistible for any Olubadan not to live there. From the history of Ibadan, all the previous Olubadan have been ruling from their houses. In the old days, when there was a war, they were going from one place to another and ruling from their houses and they had enough facilities. But times have changed. The new palace is very convenient for them.”

How popular is this silent reform?

The reform is enjoying support of notable Ibadan indigenes as many of them, in separate interactions with The Nation, hailed the speed of its acceptance among their people.

For the renowned educationist, Prof. Bolanle Awe, the idea is a very good one. She said: “The idea is good. Let younger people be made Mogaji as soon as possible to enable them ascend the throne early enough. Younger people are ascending thrones in other Yoruba towns. So, Ibadan should not be left out.

“But we must also not forget that those that have risen to the top at their old age have also amassed so much experience which makes them very useful on the throne. A good example is the late Oba Samuel Odulana whose wealth of experience over the years helped him immensely in administering Ibadan successfully.”

Also lending his voice to the reform, a legal luminary, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said: “It is a welcome development. It is a reform we have been championing at the CCII. It is welcome. We should be thinking out of the box.

“Our forefathers had a great idea and it has worked for them. Though we cannot jettison the old order, but we also have to accommodate the new things that shape the world now.  That is what Ibadan is trying to do.

“We are ensuring now that every Mogaji is a graduate and that he is not more than 40 years old. We are trying to be creative.

“If you also look at the current members of the Olubadan-In-Council, you will discover that they can make any faculty of a university. They are accomplished bankers, engineers, business men and academics. That’s the trend now.”

Though hailing the reform, a former Minister of Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, believes that those being nominated as Mogaji have a strong role to play, stressing that they should be magnanimous to present their own children who are much younger. He believes that the reform will only succeed, if such individuals being nominated volunteer their sons to serve as Mogaji, just as Chief Kola Daisi did when he volunteered his son in his stead.

Oyelese said: “Personally, I don’t see anything wrong in it. It is not a factor of personal preference, but how each family in Ibadan wants it. In the past, age was a great factor in determining everything. The oldest used to be appointed as Mogaji. While this new reform is a good idea, it is difficult to legislate. If the elder in a clan insists on becoming the Mogaji, it will be difficult to deny him his due. Chief Kola Daisi showed a good example when he was magnanimous to present his son for the position when the opportunity came. But not all elders may be that magnanimous. So, it depends largely on each family.”

From all indications, a younger generation of Olubadan may begin to emerge in the near decades.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared today a public holiday to commemorate the coronation of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, who will be installed at Mapo Hall, Ibadan by 9am.

A statement by the Head of Service, Soji Eniade, urged civil servants, traders, artisans, and the public to show up at the venue.

Ajimobi appealed to the public to ensure peaceful conduct during and after the ceremony.

The government has denied the claims by some corporate organisations that they are sponsoring the event.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, at a briefing yesterday, said the coronation committee headed by the Otun Olubadan, Dr. Lekan Balogun, which also comprised representatives from the Olubadan-in-council, Iyalode line and Adetunji’s younger brother, Ambali, is the only recognised body preparaing for the event.

Layinka, who heads the media sub-committee, said top government officials, led by a former Secretary to the State Government, Ismael Olalekan Alli, are also on the committee.

He said organisations that wish to sponsor the event should approach the State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA) for approval of their banners and posters.

“We wish to state categorically on behalf of the organising committee that no sponsor has been accredited to manage or brand the ceremony.

“We understand that a group, purportedly advisory group to the Olubadan designate, has been soliciting support and collaborating with some individuals to raise funds and seek branding and marketing opportunities.

“There is no such accreditation. We have noted with embarrassment that some organisations, such as MTN and Globacom, have been putting up banners and posters claiming to be sponsors.

“This is misleading as the organising committee has not authorised any organisation as sponsor.

“There are rules of engagement in branding of events. OYSAA is responsible for control, regulation of outdoor practice.

OYSAA has begun to remove such posters, banners. However, if they can go through due process, they are welcome.”

Markets in the 11 local governments in Ibadan would be closed today.

This, Layinka said, was to ensure the full participation of residents and ease movement.

Entry roads from Idi Arere to Popoyemoja, in front of the Olubadan’s palace up to Epo Akara mosque have been turned to one-way.

The traffic from Oke Ado leading into Bode had also been turned into one-way route.

This, according to Permanent Secretary, Works and Transport, Oyesola Oyedele, has become a permanent measure to ease up traffic in and out of the palace.

The monarch has released his title- Aje Ogungunniso 1.

It will appear on the paraphernalia of office and items to be used for the coronation

The title is believed to have been borne out of his company’s name: Omo Aje Sound Studio, which he established in 1955.

The Olubadan-Designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, has been described as a “divinely-ordained monarch due to his age, patience and wisdom”.

The Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam, Shafaudeen in Islam worldwide, Sheikh Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, said this when he visited Adetunji at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan, home yesterday.

Olagoke added that Adetunji, as a silent achiever, has contributed to the success of many musicians.

He noted that his wide acceptability and aura of God in him would make his reign successful.

The Imam, however, called on indigenes and residents to support the monarch for the realisation of his developmental agenda for the city.

Olagoke called for conversion of Olubadan palace at Oja’Ba to a secretariat for the office of Olubadan and the establishment of a library within the new palace.

He donated 18 textbooks on social and religious issues to the proposed library.

Adetunji, who was full of praises to Allah, affirmed that his accession to the stool was an unchallenged act of God envisaged by the late Olubadan and late Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Sule Omiyale.

The Olubadan-Designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, will be installed on March 4.

Adetunji broke the news at the weekend when Juju music maestro Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey visited his Popoyemoja, Ibadan home.

Adetunji said the date was arrived at after extensive consultations with stakeholders.

According to him, the coronation was delayed because the late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade deserved a befitting burial.

He said: “Sincerely, the Olubadan-in-Council must not only make but submit their endorsement of the Olubadan to Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Then, the Governor must ratify the decision.

“Once you cross the barrier, you get the date. So, the date is Friday, March 4 at Oja’Ba, Ibadan, where successive Olubadan received their staff of office.

“On March 5, there will be a big reception at a venue that is yet to be decided.”

Obey described the Olubadan-elect as a dependable and reliable pillar in music recording, composition, promotion, advertisement and marketing.

He said nothing could be too much for any musician to do to ensure the success of the coronation.

The musician prayed for continued peace, progress and development in Ibadanland.