Twenty-four hours after the passage of Oba Saliu Adetunji, some Ibadan chiefs, yesterday, held a assembly at the house of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, chief Lekan Balogun, who is anticipated to emerge as the brand new Olubadan.
The chiefs, who met at the Ali Iwo home of high chief Balogun, the day past afternoon, included the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, high chief Abdulateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Balogun of Ibadanland, high chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Asia Olubadan, high chief Eddy Oyewole; Ekarun Olubadan, high chief Amidu Ajibade, amongst others.
It was gathered that the chiefs met over the next line of motion following the demise of Oba Adetunji on Sunday. The late Olubadan was buried on Sunday at the Popoyemoja palace.
It was accrued that the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, was not at the meeting. don't forget that he was the only high leader who turned down the Obaship title the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi conferred on others. He sooner or later took the then administration to court over the overview of the chieftaincy title.
meanwhile, there are sturdy indicators that legal tussle might also have an effect on the appointment and installation of the following Olubadan. this is contrary to the general function that the Otun Olubadan need to routinely step in as the subsequent Olubadan in keeping with tradition, as Governor Seyi Makinde has been counseled to exercise some restraint earlier than putting in a new monarch.
most of the stakeholders in Ibadan, consisting of former governor Rashidi Ladoja, refused to talk on the problem when beckoned on the day before today. those who reluctantly spoke off the file stated: “the issue could be very delicate.”
As a matter of fact, a number of them cautioned that any unguarded comments or feedback now ought to prompt disaster and that Governor Makinde also had to exercise critical restraint before taking any motion that would cost him re-election in 2023.”
however a former attorney-general of Oyo state, Michael Lana, in a letter to the governor, yesterday, argued that Lekan Balogun is not worthy to be crowned as the next Olubadan.
The attorney noted a few ongoing legal cases that affected the eligibility of Balogun to come to be the Olubadan, pronouncing that installing Balogun as Olubadan might amount to an “aberration and illegality.”
in line with the ex-attorney-popular, Balogun, some high chiefs and Baales have been earlier conferred their titles by way of the late Abiola Ajimobi, when he was the governor.
a part of the letter read: “Kindly be aware, your Excellency, that your predecessor in office, with out taking into consideration the criminal outcomes of his movements on the future of Ibadan traditional institution, conferred the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and Baales and gave them the right to put on beaded crowns and coronets in 2017.
“This motion was challenged in suit No. M317/ 2017-high chief Rashid Ladoja V the governor of Oyo state.
“however, the court of appeal in appeal No.CA/111/99/ 2018 set apart the said judgment of Aiki J on technical grounds without touching at the merit of the case and despatched the case returned for retrial.
“Upon your assumption of office, it become resolved that the matter be settled amicably and the same was settled through the instrumentality of a terms of agreement, which have become the judgment of the court.
“The said terms of agreement recognized the illegality of the said actions, and therefore, set aside the gazettes by means of which the said chiefs became Obas with a right to wear beaded crowns and coronets.
“those high chiefs and Baales were upset with this consent judgment and therefore instituted separate suits to set apart the consent judgment while at the same time clinging to the title of Obas (which truely is in contempt of court). one of these cases is match No. I/ 22/ 2020-HRM Oba (senator) Lekan Balogun & ors V governor of Oyo nation & ors.”
The lawyer similarly explained that although the judgment amended the Ibadan chieftaincy customary regulation, “the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration of 1957 was no longer amended and therefore stays extant.”
He delivered: “underneath that declaration and all relevant regulation, no Oba can ascend to the throne of Olubadan.
“In other words, as long as the high chiefs still dangle to the identify of Oba, they can't ascend to that throne and any set up of any of them for the duration of the pendency of that fit is illegal, null and void.
“it's miles in step with this criminal state of affairs that I recommendation, most humbly, that you need to withhold any approval of any high chief to come to be the Olubadan so that you will not also join in the desecration of Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.”
Lana defined that until the instances are concluded or withdrawn, Balogun would be unfit to be established as Olubadan.
“If the court holds that they have got the right to be Obas and entitled to put on beaded crowns, then they're perpetually barred from becoming any other Oba. Nowhere within the customary law of any Yoruba metropolis is an Oba elevated to become another Oba.
“however, if the court holds that the phrases of settlement stands, and their Obaship title is illegal, then they may be unfastened to be elevated to the post of Olubadan.”
Reacting, the leader Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, stated: “As you can see, nowadays is a public holiday. offices aren't opened. The attorney-general has confirmed to me that he isn't in ownership of this kind of letter from Lana.”
however, to douse the anxiety, individuals of the Olubadan-in-Council, yesterday, condoled with Governor Makinde, the people of Ibadanland and family participants of the late monarch.
rising from a two-hour closed-door meeting held at the Alarere house of Otun Olubadan and the could-be successor to the throne, the Olubadan-in- Council, described the deceased leader of the Council as an indefatigable ruler whose reign would be difficult to forget about.
whilst praying for the repose of the soul of the departed king, the Council entreated the bereaved own family to stay joyous and happy for the legacies of excellent reign left behind by their patriarch.
The Council reiterated that the historical and conventional succession plan to the throne of Olubadan remains sacrosanct, the elevation conferred on all the contributors of the Olubadan-in-Council as Royal Majesties notwithstanding.
The Olubadan-in-Council said the elevation granted the participants, who also serve as kingmakers, had not in any manner altered the age-lengthy and enviable traditional succession plan to the Olubadan throne in Ibadanland.
consistent with the Council, “there should be no controversy as to who will become the next Olubadan among us because the preceding elevation that made us Royal Majesties did not in any way have an effect on our respective offices in the Olubadan-in-Council and would no longer preclude any people to mount the Olubadan throne every time it's miles the person’s turn.
“we are the kingmakers and we will do the needful at the perfect time. For now, we are still all within the mourning mood of our departed father and respected leader inside the Council and we simply need to assure the generality of our humans both domestic and within the diaspora that there’s no reason for alarm,” the Council brought.
The Baale of Ekotede, Dr. Taiye Ayorinde, said Lekan Balogun need to normally become the subsequent Olubadan.
“The succession programme is that Ibadan chieftaincy is based on a hierarchical rotational system. usually, the next person need to be Lekan Balogun. but alas, what we don’t understand is how does he place the first crown he had?
“in any case, nothing is hard that can't be resolved. He should be forgiven. Ibadan ought to forgive him and also overlook the errors of the past governor in putting in a few Obas in Ibadan.
“only the kingmakers, the Olubadan-in-Council can nominate the king, which means that they must discover a manner of sorting it. they are the simplest ones that may do it. They should make a recommendation to the governor.
“however rumour has it that the connection between Lekan Balogun and the current governor isn't a clean one. we are able to only pray the governor does no longer believe in victimisation and he follows what's within the records and tradition of Ibadan.”
