The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Wednesday accused his embattled high chiefs of resorting to the use of unsubstantiated allegations fit only for pepper soup joints and beer parlours.
This according to the Monarch, was a deliberate attempt to assassinate his character and denigrate the institution he represents.
The first class monarch cautioned the public to beware of what they read and listen to, as fake news like hard drugs pollute the human system.
Olubadan also pointed out that “the high chief was reported elsewhere of threatening as kingmakers who enthroned Olubadan, they reserve the right to remove him. The high chief is better reminded that this empty threat is not new and sustainable, as he has said it in 2018 and denied it later.
“For the benefit of the public, there is no law that empowers any high chief or group of high chiefs to remove Olubadan. On the contrary, it is Olubadan who can suspend or peg any erring chief for act of contumely.
It could be recalled that the High Chiefs on Sunday alleged Olubadan of mortgaging promotion from Mogaji upward at the cost of N30 million upward.
Apparently referring to the letter, “Re: Grievances; our response” of 14th February, 2020 single-handedly signed by Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun which was obtained from the public domain, the first class monarch vowed to clear his name of the damaging claim that he sold a traditional chieftaincy title for as high as N30 Million.
The first class monarch who responded through his Personal Assistant/Media and Publicity Director, Mr. Adeola Oloko stated that the embattled high chief should have substantiated his claim by mentioning the name of the chief or chiefs who paid the sum.
“He should have disclosed where and when the money was paid. Was the money paid in cash, cheque or through transfer? Was it paid in local or foreign currency? What kind of traditional chieftaincy title was the so-called person asking from Olubadan, as alleged by High Chief Lekan Balogun? How much gain would the person possibly make from the alleged N30 Million investment on the chieftaincy title, which he could have possibly invested on more profitable venture? Oloko regretted that despite Chief Balogun’s claim to sophisticated education and age, he could not differentiate between free comment and libel.
According to Adeola Oloko, what the high chiefs did not tell the public was that in September, 2019, when the high chiefs came to plead with Olubadan that the vacant positions from Otun Balogun down to Jagun on both side be filled, what His Majesty requested from them was the usual N100, 000 per step. Thinking that His Majesty would ask for more but he asked for less, the high chiefs prostrated for Kabiesi in appreciation.
“The implication of this is that if you have two steps to climb, you are liable to pay only N200, 000. 00. If you have three steps, you pay N300, 000. 00. Even when some of the high chiefs could not afford to pay, it was Chief Yemi Soladoye led Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII that bailed them out. So, how can the respected monarch ask for N30 or any million naira from someone who cannot afford N100, 000 only?
“For the avoidance of doubt, the money in question, when collected, is always paid into the coffers of the Olubadan-in-Council. It is then disbursed at the end of every successful chieftaincy exercise and divided into three equal parts. While one part usually goes to Olubadan, the two other parts are always shared between Otun Olubadan and Balogun lines.
“When on 15th December, 2016 the former Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi was honoured along with his wife, Florence with the honorary chieftaincy titles of Aare and Yeye Aare of Ibadanland, that was how some of our high chiefs falsely accused Olubadan of having collected a sum of N50 Million.”
They bluntly refused to be consoled until Ajimobi told them point blank that Kabiyesi did not charge anything, so he won’t give a dime to any chief. Former Governor Ajimobi is alive to confirm the story. We challenged High Chief Balogun to produce demonstrable evidence of his claim”.
