The almost one year acrimony between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, and his High Chiefs who were promoted Obas by Oyo State governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, last year, appears over as the two parties meet today for the first time in 12 months.
The meeting of the usual Olubadan-in-Council will hold at the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan.
The meeting had been suspended since last year following the refusal of Oba Adetunji to recognise the promotion of the High Chiefs to Obas by the state governor, Sen. Ajimobi.
Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, the next in line to the paramount Ibadan monarch, who confirmed the development to Daily Independent, disclosed that all the other Obas had received formal invitation to the meeting and assured that they would attend.
The process for the scheduled meeting began penultimate Sunday when the Otun Olubadan, Oba Balogun held what was described as a family meeting with the Olubadan and Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, the former governor of Oyo State, who holds the title of Osi Olubadan, in Olubadan’s palace.
Though the meeting was said to be hot as both Oba Balogun and the next in rank to him, Sen. Ladoja, were said to have exchanged hot words, the situation did not jeopardize the peace process as it was at the meeting that the scheduled meeting was agreed upon and the two brothers, Balogun and Ladoja, were said to have left the Olubadan palace in one vehicle to demonstrate that there was no grudge between the two of them.
Governor Ajimobi had, on August 27, last year, at Mapo Hall in the ancient metropolis, conferred Obaship on the Ibadan High Chiefs (excluding Sen. Ladoja who refused the title) and some of the Baales following the review of the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy law, a decision that did not go down well with the Olubadan, Oba Adetunji.
Sen. Ladoja challenged the review at an Ibadan High Court which ruled in his favour, but the state government has since appealed the judgment.
Following Olubadan’s refusal to accept the report of the review and his subsequent non-recognition of the promoted Obas, the Olubadan-in-Council’s meeting, usually held in his palace twice a month, ceased as the other Obas led by Oba Balogun began to meet at Mapo Hall while the Olubadan and Sen. Ladoja held meetings in the palace.
(Independent)
