Aggrieved members of the Olubadan-in-Council Sunday cried out over alleged neglect in the running of Ibadan traditional system by the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunj.
The members of Olubadan- in- Council in a letter addressed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, titled ‘Our grievances’ also accused the Olubadan palace of double standard in its handling and interpretation of the consent judgment obtained by Osi-Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja late last year, saying, ” blowing hot and cold at the same time cannot serve the cause of fair play, equity and justice.”
In the letter, the Ibadan chiefs alleged that since they had successfully completed one of their statutory duties as kingmakers by the enthronement of Oba Adetuni as Olubadan of Ibadanland, they had been “sidelined and only brought into picture of what goes on in the palace after the completion and conclusion of all the processes.”
The high chiefs in the letter said: ‘’As members of Olubadan-in-Council, it is our responsibility to hold sessions with you on the day-to-day running of the Ibadan traditional system, including appointment and promotion of traditional chiefs from Mogaji up to the highest chieftaincy title as well as award of honorary chieftaincy titles among several other functions our positions entail.’’
Describing their experience under Oba Adetunji as unprecedented in the history of the Ibadan traditional system, the members of the Olubadan-in-Council said, ‘’sadly, our current experience in the palace under your leadership is unprecedented in the history of Ibadan traditional institution and to worsen the matter, all attempts on our part to check the trend have been rebuffed.’’
On the raging controversy over their promotion as beaded and coronet wearing Obas, the Ibadan high chiefs said the controversy was ‘needless’, going by ‘’the lacuna in the way and manner by which the palace has interpreted it.
“Without prejudice to the two separate suits already filed in court, challenging the consent judgment recently obtained by Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja to set aside the two separate gazettes that contained the promotion exercises carried out in Ibadan and the entire state traditional council, following the recommendations emanating from the said review, which Your Imperial Majesty, your members of Olubadan-in-Council as well as some of our brothers in the less city benefitted from, it is curious that the palace has been selective in its observance of the said court judgment. In observance of the setting aside of the two gazettes as contained in the consent judgment, the palace recently elevated some Mogajis to the position of Jagun and other titles in defiance of the recommendation contained in the gazettes that Ikolaba title should be the entry point to the Olubadan stool.”
