From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, stood still for many hours yesterday as new era began in the history of traditional institution in Ibadanland with official installation of 21 kings out of the 33 traditional rulers promoted recently to monarchs in one swell swoop.
Apart from traffic congestion witnessed in many parts of Ibadan such as Beere, Mapo, Oja Oba, Isale-Ijebu, Molete, Idi-Arere, Orita-Merin, Agbeni and Alekuso, there were celebrations at different 21 family compounds, as well as personal residences of the new kings.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi presented instruments of office to the newly installed kings at the popular Mapo Hall arcade, Ibadan, which was witnessed by a large crowd from different parts of Ibadan. The governor said the conferment took effect from last Friday.
The remaining 12 crowns were not given based on nine vacant stools among the 22 Baales elevated to kings and two vacant titles of Otun and Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, whose occupiers, Dr. Olufemi Olaifa and Falowo Fadare, died in the past two weeks.
Also, the Osi Olubadan, Rashidi Ladoja, who is among the nine living members of the Olubadan-in-Council conferred with obaship titles on Friday, August 25, 2017, has not received his conferment letter and did not attend the installation yesterday.
Ajimobi had elevated 22 Baales and 11 members of Olubadan-in-Council from ‘high chiefs’ to the position of beaded-crown wearing monarchs on Friday, August 25, 2017 at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
The governor said the two vacant positions in the Olubadan-in-Council would be filled when promotions were done.
As soon as the Oluwo of Ibadanland arrived at the Mapo Hall arcade, he led the new kings to the inner enclaves at Ose Meji compound, where traditional rites were performed for the new monarchs. They, however, returned to the arcade at bout 2:23p.m. The staff of office was presented to the second-in-command to the Olubadan, Oba Moshood Olalekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan at about 2:52p.m. Then, others followed from Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun of Ibadanland.
Those decorated yesterday comprised eight among the 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who are to be addressed as ‘His Royal Majesty’ and 13 baales among 22 baales promoted to kings recently, who are also to be addressed as ‘His Royal Highness.’ The Olubadan of Ibadanland, has been promoted as ‘His Imperial Majesty’ and he is the paramount ruler of Ibadanland.
New monarchs
The remaining six members of Olubadan-in-Council decorated yesterday were Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Eddy Oyewole, Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland; and Oba Kolawole Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland
But Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, who was a former governor of Oyo State, that had opposed the review of Olubadan chieftaincy declaration from inception, boycotted the ceremony. He also described the exercise as ‘height of illegality’.
… Elevated Baales
Those that were elevated from Baale to coronet wearing-monarchs included the Onijaiye of Ijaiye, Oba Lasisi Akano; Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Ismaila Abioye Olasunkanmi Opeola; Onikereku of Ikereku, Oba Moses Olasunkanmi Akinyosoye; Olododo of Olodo, Oba Mudasiru Omodele Adebayo; Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Victor Sunday Okunola; and Onido of Ido, Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola.
The list also comprised the Akakufo of Akufo, Oba Olabamiji Ahmed Thomas; Oloke of Okelade-Okin, Oba Wahab Olabamiji Okedina; Alawotan of Awotan, Oba Dauda Omotoso; Olofa of Offa, Oba Adeboye Oyelowo Salako; Onilagun of Lagun, Oba Rafiu Alawusa; Alaba of Aba-Nla, Oba Tiamiyu Labiyi Ladipo; and Alakanran of Akanran, Oba James Oladipo Obisesan.
… We’re not changing history –Gov
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday said his administration is not changing history, tradition and culture of Ibadanland but, elevating and consolidating the exalted position of the Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, without altering or tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure.
Ajimobi, who arrived at the venue of installation of 21 kings at Mapo Hall arcade, Ibadan, at about 1:38p.m., said the review of Olubadan-in-Council was in pursuant to the Government White Paper on the Justice Akintunde Boade-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Review of the existing Olubadan of Ibadan declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland.
The white paper was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on August 23, 2017 and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincies and related matters as published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol. 42 by Authority in Ibadan on August 24, 2017.
“I wish to state categorically that we are not changing history, we are not changing tradition, we are not changing the culture of Ibadanland; rather, we are elevating and consolidating our traditional institution, the exalted position of the Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, the Olubadan-in-Council and the chieftaincy institution without altering or tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure,” he said.
Ajimobi, who enjoined Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, to distance himself from partisan politics, noted that the recent review had not changed mode of ascension to the stool of Olubadan and added that the government had only promoted Olubadan to ‘His Imperial Majesty’. He said it was imperative for the members of Olubadan-in-Council to be promoted too, and “so, the power of Olubadan has not diminished. He will still be collecting the royalties as he has been doing.
“Olubadan is my father and he is a father to all of us. He should not allow politician to tell him untrue information about the review. Olubadan should not be involved in politics. A politician, we have beaten three times during elections, has been misinforming Olubadan.
“After today, I will go and see Olubadan. It is a politician that has been influencing Olubadan against this review. In the process of the review, Olubadan came to see me and I explained everything to him. I also went to him two times and we also talked about the review. Olubadan accepted the review.”