Olubadan Stages Road Show, Affirms Sole Kingship in Ibadan
The last has not been heard on last Sunday’s mass enthronement of 20 new Obas in Ibadan by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, yesterday stormed major markets and roads across Ibadan metropolis to affirm the indivisibility of the Ibadan royal stool under his kingship.
Oba Adetunji who welcomed the Mogajis (family heads) in their scores who came to pay solidarity visit to him in opposition to governor’s elevation of High Chiefs in Olubadan-in-council to position of Obas and 11 Baales to beaded-crown status, told Ibadan indigenes and residents alike across the areas visited that he would not surrender his sovereignty to any other Oba in the land.
The show which took off at Popoyemoja palace to areas like Oja’ba, Beere, Oje, Agodi Gate, Agbeni, Ogunpa, Dugbe, Molete and other environs, saw Olubadan waiving horse tail to the people who were hailing him as the only recognised Oba in the land.
Shortly after returning to the palace, the Olubadan, through his Director of Media, Adeola Oloko, advised the state government not to paint the monarch with the tar brush of petty partisan politics, as he is a monarch and not a politician.
He said: “As a monarch, I’m a father of all, irrespective of sex, ethnic and ideological persuasions.”
Reacting to the remarks of the state governor at the mass coronation of 21 kings last Sunday, Oba Adetunji stated that the person or group who would use the royal stool of Olubadan for selfish political reason had not been born.
“Since March 4, 2016, when I ascended the exalted throne of Olubadan, I have opened the gate of our palace wide to all manner of people. If you belong to APC, PDP, Labour Party, Accord Party and/ or more, you are most welcome. So, politics has nothing to do with my resistance or opposition to the chieftaincy review spearheaded by the state government,” he said.
Oba Adetunji also described as unfortunate the comment by Ajimobi that recent utterances from the palace are tending towards politics, adding if the state governor has any demonstrable evidence of such, he should kindly provide it.
According to him, “There is no statement issued from the Olubadan media office which did not enjoy my blessing before it was made public.”
He said: “While I am aware that people react to age differently, I am not old enough to be misinterpreted by anybody, even at 89, Ajimobi stated that he invited us to the governor’s office over this matter and visited me in the palace later. While this is true, I wish to respectfully state that the Boade Panel was inaugurated on May 19, 2017, His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi invited me to the Governor’s Office on June 14, 2017, after the panel had sat for four weeks. At that meeting, the governor, the High Chiefs and State House correspondents would recall my opposition to the chieftaincy review. My question is did anybody put words in my mouth in that recorded tape? When he invited me to his office and visited me in the palace on June 18, 2017, the Boade Panel was almost through with its job, when we met at the inner chamber, what the state governor came to tell me was that he knew I should have been consulted first. So, it is not true that I was consulted as claimed by him.
“If I had been consulted, this error would have been avoided. The desecration of the crown would have been averted.”
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, who congratulated all Ibadan people for keeping the peace despite the brazen abuse of Ibadan custom and tradition, stated that these times would pass.
Oba Adetunji commended all his brother-monarchs for their solidarity and cooperation, saying his opposition to the mass coronation exercise is to prevent breakdown of law and order, complication and dire consequences in Ibadan chieftaincy system.