A veil appears to have been cast on the peace moves by some Ibadan indigenes to end the royal crisis between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji and his estranged new kings as the latter accused a former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja of throwing a cog in the wheel of the reconciliatory process.
The monarch and his members of Olubadan-in-Council have been embroiled in crisis over the review of Olubadan chieftaincy declaration and eventual elevation of 21 kings to a crown wearing status.
The new kings, who paid due respect to the Olubadan of Ibadan, said the recent comments credited to Ladoja where he gave what they described as “fallacious and mischievous” on the release of the Olubadan monthly stipend by the Local Government Traditional Councils in Ibadanland.
Contrary to the alleged claims by Ladoja, the kings argued that it was not Ladoja, who facilitated the peace move to the palace of the Olubadan but they were formally invited by the Olubadan of Ibadan.
In a statement by Oba Lekan Balogun, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and Oba Amidu Ajibade, the monarchs said: “What motivated the release of the suspended stipend was the letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter ref: CB.211/2T1/237 dated 6th August 2018 which is self-explanatory.
The Ministry’s letter was in response to Olubadan’s letter captioned: ‘suspension of payment of Monthly stipends/Allowance of Members of Traditional Councils in Ibadanland by Olubadan of Ibadan’ dated 16th July 2018.
“The Ministry then enjoined us to release the outstanding monthly allowances of the imperial majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan in the interest of peace”.
“Ladoja, as a former Governor of Oyo State, is conversant with the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State and so cannot claim ignorance of the Chiefs Law Cap 28, Section 28(i), Volume 1 which states: ‘that the Governor may from time to time after consultation with the Council of Obas and Chiefs of the State by order specify the chieftaincies the holders for the time being of which are entitled to wear beaded crowns’ and which law ultimately perfected the elevation of 48 Obas in Oyo State including the Ibadan High Chiefs to crown and coronet wearing Obas by Oyo State Governor on the 22nd March 2018.
“Ladoja should approach the court of law to challenge the Governor on the above law if he feels offended. Oh! He is helpless about it.
“Ladoja should stop insulting us, we are not his stooges. When we go to any Olubadan-In-Council meeting in future we will go as Obas-in-Council (as His Royal majesties) under the chairmanship of kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, who is his Imperial majesty. We are not calling ourselves what we are not please.”
“At best, he seems jealous of our elevation forgetting that the moment we were elevated as His Royal Majesties, that was the moment that our referred Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland became elevated from His Royal majesty to His Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland.
The High Chiefs in Ibadanland have become Obas under the Imperial Majesty of kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland while we are still members of Olubadan-in-Council unadulterated.”
(Vanguard)
