NEWSROYALE Olubadan: As Obas disagree with Ajimobi over reforms
The move for multi Obas in Ibadanland is hailed in some quarters just as it is equally generating resistance in others.
From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan
The recent recommendation of 32 beaded Obas in Ibadanland may later become a blessing as many subjects have hailed the move while some chiefs including the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, are supposed to it.
The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, had set-up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to review the 1957 Declaration of Olubadan of Ibadanland and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland which recommended for the multiple Obas.
The 11-member commission headed by Justice Akintunde Boade, submitted its report last week. 120 memoranda were received out of which three were struck out because they were irrelevant to the terms of reference.
Besides, nine people who submitted memoranda refused, failed or neglected to give oral evidence in support of their memoranda.
According to the report, recommendations will help reduce the lengthy years it takes a potential Olubadan to get to the pinnacle of the two chieftaincy lines producing the Oba on rotational basis and reduce the rungs from the existing 22 to 11 on the Otun line, while the Balogun line was cut to 12 from 23.
As such, the Ikolaba chieftaincy will now become the entry point for a potential high chief, instead of Jagun chieftaincy as it is presently applicable.
Justice Boade said the commission gave preference to the current 11 high chiefs made up the Olubadan-in-Council, nine eligible ancient baales and five baales who are members of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
He added that two baales at the state’s borders with Ogun and Osun states were also considered for beaded crown judging by their untiring efforts in ensuring that their areas were secured for Ibadanland.
Boade further explained that while one Baale was considered because of historical importance of his area, four others were also recommended for the beaded crown-wearing obas on the basis of their historical antecedents.
However, the commission emphasized the unassailable fact that the Olubadan of
Justice Boade said the commission gave
preference to the current 11 high chiefs made up the Olubadanin-Council, nine eligible ancient baales and five baales who are members of the Oyo State Council
of Obas and Chiefs Ibadanland remains the only paramount ruler.
For Chief Adeniyi Akintola, (SAN), the review ought to have been done long ago. He pointed out that previous administrations including those of Governors Lam Adesina and Rashidi Ladoja, set-up various commissions but did not have the political will to implement the recommendations. “I think this is the first time we are having a governor with political will to implement it,” he said.
According to him, since the administration of Governor Bola Ige, from October 1979 to October 1983, a similar commission was set up, but there was no political will to go beyond the recommendations pointing out that majority of Ibadan people will welcome the present move.
Also, a custodian of Ibadan history, Chief Samson Oladejo Lakondoro, supported the review. According to him, it is one of the factors affecting creation of Ibadan State. “People outside Ibadan never believe the state is as big as this. As big as Ibadan land is, if the traditional rulers are invited to Abuja for a meeting, Olubadan always go alone when some towns that are not half as big as Ibadan will go with their kings. But if we have more kings, if Olubadan talks, others will support his agitation,” he said.
Lakondoro argued that the development cannot rewrite the history of Ibadan land because the same process of becoming Olubadan will still be relevant.
He said the crown of Olubadan is different from other kings and the status remains as the paramount ruler of Ibadan land.
According to him, those calling to stop the process are doing so for personal interests.
However, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, said the state government should not implement the recommendations now.
The monarch in a statement issued by his Director, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Adeola Oloko on Wednesday said the governor should learn from Sokoto and Kano states where it is only one monarch who sees to the affairs of the towns.
The statement also noted that: “For the avoidance of doubt, there was never a time that Olubadan supported the review embarked upon by the Oyo State Government.
“This was why the first class monarch did not submit any memorandum nor made any representation to the panel. When last week the panel submitted its report to the State Governor, the public would vividly remember that Olubadan was not in the picture at all, because he was not invited.”
He said the people of Ibadan land understand the chieftaincy system of the land, adding that the governor didn’t organise town hall meetings to know the position of the people.
Also, a former governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, did not only oppose the recommendation but approached a state High Court to stop the report submitted from implementation.
Michael Lana, lead counsel to Ladoja, in a motion filed before Justice M.I Sule, on Monday, asked the court to nullify the proceedings of the panel and its report.
Lana also prayed the court to compel Justice Boade and members of the panel to appear before it to explain why they should not be slammed for contempt.
But the motion could not be moved as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwaseun Abimbola, who appeared for Governor Ajimobi, said the governor was yet to be served with the processes.
After listening to the parties, Justice Sule adjourned to September 5, to enable the Attorney General be properly served and to file his reply to the processes.
Another Ibadan Chief and Mogaji of Akinpelu’s family, Atayese Olosun of Ibadan land, Chief Akinpelu Adesina said the development will create serious crisis.
On the whole, if the present administration eventually made the recommendations into law, the development will rewrite the history of Ibadan land.
However, the commission emphasized the unassailable fact that the Olubadan of Ibadanland remains the only paramount ruler