The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Wednesday, said he might resolve to relieve high chiefs given crowns by the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi of their duties as heads of traditional councils in the 11 council areas of the city despite their decision on Monday to release his withheld salaries.
He said the high chiefs decided to release his salary and that of the palace members of staff in order to evade the backlash of their unlawful action. After the Olubadan refused to recognise the crown-wearing high chiefs as kings of Ibadan land, they unanimously agreed to withhold the Olubadan and his workers’ salaries from the 11 council areas of the city.
But one of the crown-wearing high chiefs, Abiodun Kola-Daisi, on Monday, released a letter where he said that he had instructed the traditional chief council in Oluyole council area, where he superintend to release the sum of N900,000 being the total sum of money withheld to the monarch. He said that the action was taken as part of the respect for the Olubadan.
The letter read, “I have had deep reflection and reasoning on this action ever since and I have come to the conclusion that in as much as the Olubadan is the authority by which I have the privilege to sit as the Acting Chairman at the Traditional Council meetings, it is not proper to undermine or jeopardise the authority and deny or withhold the entitlements that are due to His Imperial Majesty.
“I suggest that a similar step should be taken by all other traditional councils on the basis that a delegate/trustee can never assume superior authority over his principal, especially, when as in our own case, we have no independent identity, except as individual members of the Olubadan-in-Council.”
(Punch)
