Olubadan Also Benefits From Reviews That Made us Kings, Says Olubadan-in-council

As the face-off in Ibadan royal rumble continues, members of Olubadan-in-Council have said Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, also enjoyed some of the benefits of the review of Olubadan chieftaincy declaration which made them kings.

The promoted kings said asking them to remove their crowns was hypocritical because it was the same chieftaincy review that promoted Olubadan from Royal Majesty to His Imperial Majesty, which Olubadan cherishes, that also made them crown-wearing kings.

The monarch’s call, according to Otun Olubadan, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun, was tantamount to casting aspersion on the review of the law governing traditional institution in Oyo State.

Oba Adetunji had asked the members of the council to remove their crowns before they would have access to the palace.

However, the Obas argued that Olubadan did not address any of the allegations against him such as “non-screening of prospective Mogajis and Baales by the council before installation,
the cash-and-carry manner by which people now get positions of Mogaji and Baale.

“The Ibadan Obas further argued that events had overtaken the court judgment the monarch referred to, as they had filed an appeal and that the issue of review of the traditional law in the state had since been embraced by other cities and towns.

“The same reform which conferred on us the new titles of His Royal Majesties and Highnesses also elevated the Olubadan to His Imperial Majesty from Royal Majesty which the Olubadan proudly adorns. So, what makes our own wrong and his right?”

Justifying the review of the chieftaincy declaration, the obas maintained that the reform carried out by the outgoing governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, “was in the best interest of the state in general and Ibadan in particular, which was why despite their initial opposition to it, we had to embrace it when it became glaring that the reform was not of any benefit to the governor as a person.”

They recalled that the Olubadan himself attended the meeting they had with the governor where the issue was thrashed out and they all agreed that the reform should be carried out.

“But, the first class monarch capitulated on getting back to his palace when his wives castigated him, wondering how on earth would other ‘Oloris’ exist alongside them at the same time,” the kings said.

The Obas said: “If the infamy going on in his palace with his Olori assuming the position of the defacto Olubadan and his parading lower ranking chiefs as his council members is his own definition of smooth running of the palace, then we wonder what and how history would record his reign.”

They faulted the Olubadan’s comments that two kings cannot be in a palace using Lagos State as an example which, they say, parades over 53 obas.

Also, “Ile-Ife in Osun State is no more a town with just Ooni of Ife as its monarch owing to a similar reform carried out by the state government just to mention a few of such places where similar reforms had taken place.

“Yet, in all of these places, the consenting authority is never eroded which is what we have kept on telling our reverred Olubadan. Unfortunately, though very mature, peace-loving and understanding, his wife would not allow him to be himself which is why the issue has continued to linger.”

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