Yesterday, the frosty relationship between the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and members of Olubadan-in-council resurfaced, with the council accusing the monarch of undermining the Olubadan institution by illegal practices.
Members of Olubadan-in-Council, who were promoted to beaded crown wearing kings by Governor Abiola Ajimobi spoke through the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, after a meeting at Mapo Hall yesterday.
They alleged that Olubadan is destroying the system that brought him to the throne as a king.
Balogun said: “We want to draw the attention of the people of Ibadan to some irregularities and illegalities embarked upon by the Olubadan. We are members of the Olubadan-in-Council but we are being sidelined by the Olubadan.
“Against tradition, Oba Saliu is running a one-man-show, disregarding the Council. He appoints Mogajis and baales without making any recourse to the Council. Most of the things that he does are illegal.
“For instance, the Olori is not a member of the Olubadan-in-Council but in his own case, the Olori unilaterally takes decisions on his behalf.
“If Olubadan thinks we do not matter, we also can show that he doesn’t matter without us. He should not forget that when he was to be made the Olubadan, he rose through the Council.
“We, the Olubadan-in-Council, made Olubadan out of him, he did not make us what we are, but we made him the Olubadan.
“Kabiyesi, Oba Adetunji has turned the institution of Olubadan into personal affairs which can be run at his wife’s whims and caprices, but it amounts to illegality. Contrary to their belief at the Popoyemoja palace that Olubadan is an authority unto himself, we are telling the whole world that Olubadan only exists with his council.
“The danger of what they are doing in the palace has been manifesting in the ridiculous action of appointing two or more Mogajis from the same compound, honouring people with Mogaji title based on friendship as well as cash-and-carry award of Baales to undeserving people.
“We are by today’s resolution alerting the Ibadans both at home and in the Diaspora of the excesses of the palace.”
For Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi and Oba Hamidu Ajibade, series of efforts by both individuals and organisations to ensure that peace reigns in the Olubadan-in-Council have been scuttled by the wife of Kabiyesi (Olori Rasheedat) who insisted that her husband would not sit with his members of council.
The obas warned the newly-installed Mogajis and baales in Ibadan not to see their appointment as legal, saying their installations should be backed by the Council before being recognized, noting that “as we stand, we have legal or drastic reactions to what is happening but we don’t want to create tension in Ibadan.”
Other obas in attendance were Oba Eddy Oyewole, Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Adebimpe.
We’ll reply appropriately, Olubadan replies
In a swift reaction, the Olubadan’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said: “We want to see what they have said, after which we will reply appropriately.”
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