The Ibadan King’s Men (Egbe Boba Se’lu) on yesterday called on the 21 Ibadan kings that were sacked by the court on Friday to apologise to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, within 21 days for their roles in ‘denigrating the stool of the Olubadan.’
According to The Punch, the group comprises of learned indigenes of Ibadan.
It maintained its stance against the installation of the kings by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and after the judgment was delivered by Justice Olajumoke Aiki of an Ibadan High Court, the group praised the judge “for being upright.”
In a statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Dr. Adams Akewula, after a meeting in Ibadan, where the judgment was appraised, the sacked kings were urged to, apart from apologising to the Olubadan, appease the gods and ancestors of Ibadan.
The statement added that the affected kings who were removed should behave like true sons of Yoruba land now that it was clear that ‘their elevation, promotion and installation as so-called Obas have no precedence in Ibadan Native Law and Tradition.’
“To preserve their dignity from further being eroded, we hereby demand a special apology from them to the Olubadan; the ancestors and the founding fathers of the land within 21 days, in order to make key atonement for any perceived wrongs they might have done by their connivance with the ruling class to denigrate the stool of the Olubadan,” the statement read in part.
“They remain our fathers and toeing the path of honour now will assuage Kabiyesi’s feeling and indeed that of all Ibadan people towards them. After all, to err is human and to forgive is divine,” it added.
While praising the judge, the group said Ibadan people would forever be grateful to her for standing firm against the introduction of a system that would have rewritten the cherished history of the city.
It also called on the 21 sacked kings to desist from wearing the crowns and coronets that were given to them by the governor during their installation at the Mapo Hall on August 27, 2017.
“With this development, the 21 ‘Obas’ should desist from wearing their beaded coronets or crowns in obedience to this landmark judgment. The IKM also wonders why the leadership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes has remained silent and not deemed it necessary to congratulate Oba Adetunji? We feel concerned too on why our ever-pragmatic Council of Authentic Mogajis in Ibadan has remained silent of recent?” it said.
