The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Sunday, met with the key actors in the controversies surrounding the crowning of high chiefs and baales of Ibadan by Governor Abiola Ajimobi last year.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Lekan Balogun; the Osi Olubadan of the land, Rashidi Ladoja; and Ashipa Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole were at the closed door meeting, according to PUNCH report.
The Olubadan had refused to recognise the high chiefs who were elevated to the status of kings, which had since created a gulf between the monarch and the beneficiaries of the governor’s action.
Ladoja is the only high chief that refused the elevation and went ahead to challenge the action in an Ibadan High Court presided over by Justice Olajumoke Aiki.
In granting the prayers of Ladoja, the judge in her ruling said Governor Ajimobi acted beyond his constitutional powers and annulled the elevation. But Ajimobi had appealed the ruling.
The crisis worsened when the high chiefs influenced the non-payment of the monarch and palace workers’ salaries until last week, when one of them, the Ekerin Olubadan, Abiodun Kola-Daisi, opted to release the monarch’s allowance at Oluyole council area where he presides over the traditional council. He also urged others to do the same as a mark of respect for the king.
PUNCH reported that the meeting went on for about two hours after which the high chiefs came out of the inner chamber of the palace at exactly 1.28pm. Ladoja left with Balogun in a Toyota Camry with number plate UN 362 KJA belonging to Balogun. It was understood that the three high chiefs left for another meeting at an undisclosed location which would involve other high chiefs.
No words yet from the Olubadan palace but the move was not unconnected to a peace move on the installation of the new Ibadan obas.
