The government of Oyo State has said it has suspended the promotion from Mogaji (Family Head) to Jagun, both in the Otun Olubadan and Balogun lines of Olubadan chieftaincy hierarchy lines until further notice.
Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday disclosed that the suspension was part of the recommendations in the review as gazetted by the state government.
He said that “What the panel recommended as gazetted is that there will be no longer promotion from Mogaji (Compound Head) to Jagun both in the Otun line and Balogun line in the Olubadan Chieftaincy line until the present Jaguns in the Otun Olubadan and Balogun lines rise to become Ikolaba Balogun and Ikolaba Olubadan.”
This is just as the government revealed that the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja is yet to collect his crown and certificate, adding that the former governor has not officially rejected the crown. Kolade added that the state government awaits him.
“I have not seen the Osi Olubadan reject the crown. There is no letter written to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters where he rejected the crown. He has only said he is not available. We are still expecting his availability to pick his crown. Whenever he is available, he will pick up his crown.”
Kolade, who briefed journalists together with his information, culture and tourism counterpart, Mr Toye Arulogun, said there remains a father-son cordiality between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Expressing respect for the wisdom and personality of the Olubadan, they noted that some statements ascribed to the Olubadan were only driven by some with political interests.
Speaking, Kolade said, “From the speech of the governor at Sunday’s coronation, he maintained that the Olubadan remained his father. There is that cordiality of father to son between the Olubadan and the governor. There is no problem between them officially.”
Kolade also announced that the panel also recommended total eradication of Seriki line in the Olubadan chieftaincy line, saying after those in the Seriki line have been fused away, there will be no more Seriki chiefs in Ibadanland.
“The gazette has also put a stop to Seriki. There will be no Seriki line anymore. We will allow those who are there until they fused out. Then there will be no more Seriki,” he added.
In the same vein, Arulogun said, “Left to the Olubadan, I don’t think there are issues. Hand of Esau, hand of Jacob is what is happening. What you sometimes see is not the Olubadan, the imperial majesty of Ibadan. Olubadan cannot speak the way the media aide has been speaking. We know there is also some serious political undertone to some of these issues.”
On questions about whether the Baales elevated to kingly status had become superior to Mogajis (family warlords), Kolade said the promoted Baales remained in the villages while the Mogajis were in the city.
He said that no one could be both Mogaji and Baale.
“Mogaji remains head of the family in the city and still have all their rights. Once you are entitled to Mogaji, you are entitled to joining the Olubadan line but the Baale terminates at level of being head of his village head. If you prefer to be Oba in your village, you can’t combine that with being Mogaji in the city.”
