IBADAN obas have faulted the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, for ordering them to remove their “illegal crowns”, apologise and return to the palace.

The Olubadan and the high chiefs fell apart after they were made crown-wearing obas by the Oyo State Government in August 27, 2017.

The Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the Obas, comprising some members of the Olubadan-in-Council and promoted Baales, said, “Oba Adetunji’s directive that they should drop their crowns is hypocritical and an aspersion on the review of the law governing traditional institution in Oyo State.”

He  insisted that none of the issues raised in their allegations against  some of the  activities  in  the  palace  such as non-screening of prospective Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads) by the council before installation had been addressed by  the  Olubadan.

The obas also frowned upon  “the cash-and-carry manner in  which people now get Mogaji and Baale positions, leading to the appointment of more than one Mogaji from the same compound and relinquishing of the palace authority to Olori (wife of the monarch)”.

According to Balogun,  events have  overtaken the court judgment being referred to by the Olubadan.

He said  the reform which led to the high chiefs’ elevation also led to the elevation of the Olubadan to His Imperial Majesty from Royal Majesty.

He asked, “So, what makes our own wrong and his own right?”

He  added  that the reform carried out by Governor  Abiola Ajimobi was in the best interest of the state in general and Ibadan in particular.

The Otun Olubadan alleged that the Olubadan attended the  meeting where they all agreed that the reform should be carried out.

Balogun said, “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.”

He added, “There is  nothing new in having more than a monarch in a town or city, because Lagos today parades over 53 obas. Ile-Ife in Osun State is no longer a town with just the  Ooni of Ife as its monarch,  owing to a similar reform carried out by the state government.

“Yet, in all of these places, the paramountcy of the consenting authority is never eroded, which is what we have kept on telling our  baba.” – Punch

– Apr. 4, 2019 @ 9:19 GMT |