Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II, has charged newly-installed mogajis and baales in Ibadanland to be partners in progress with him.
He gave the charge on Monday at the installation ceremony of the new mogajis and baales, held at his Alarere residence.
The traditional ruler said the partnership became imperative in line with his desire to bequeath to coming generations a metropolis devoid of land-induced rancour or dispute.
Two mogajis and 11 baales emerged at the installation ceremony.
Olubadan stated in a release by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, that he is more than resolute on his desire to rid Ibadan of land-grabbers.
He therefore declared that he would want the total cooperation of the mogajis and the baales in that respect.
The traditional ruler lifted the suspension placed on Mogaji Olawale Oladoja who was recently accused of involvement in land dispute.
Oba Balogun however insisted that the Olubadan-In-Council would not look the other way while any of his lieutenants ride roughshod over Ibadan residents, indigenes and non-indigenes alike.
“We should be grateful to God and our forebears for our spirit of accommodation which accounts for our vast land and population that today stand as our source of pride.
“On no account should we allow anything whatsoever to erode our God-given grace and opportunity by making land acquisition a nightmare for anybody interested in purchasing land.
“Our strength and pride lies in our bigness which our vast land confers on us as a people,” the paramount ruler in Ibadanland added.
He called on the new mogajis and baales to cooperate with him by adhering strictly to his often-repeated admonition to them not to revisit already sold or gifted land by their forebears.
Oba Balogun maintained that, as leaders in their respective rights, happiness occasioned by the welfare of the people of their respective domains should be their concern.
Alhaji Waheed Odee and Ganiyu Olagoke became the mogajis of Alajogun Family, Foko area and Alaadorin, Aremo area, respectively.
Kamorudeen O. Abdul-Kareem and Muniru Tijani Alabede were appointed as baales of Abatan and Oloola villages in Akinyele and Ido local government areas of the state, respectively.
Musibaudeen O. Adejare, Salaudeen Amusa, Mukaila Olaide Akanni, Mukaila Durodola Akere and Abdul Kabiru O. Akere were appointed as baales of Sarumi Olumogbe, Ashi Madegan, Isafunmi, Akere Awotan and Oke-Owa in Egbeda, Ibadan North, Akinyele and Ido local government areas, respectively.
Also appointed as baales were Timothy O. Olajire (Akinlawon Olori-Oko), Rasaki Gbenjo (Alaagbaa), Adul Rahamoni A. Adebayo (Kankun), all in Akinyele local government area and George Folorunso Gbaraoye (Ogidi-Egan) in Ona Ara Local Government Area.
The installation ceremony was witnessed by three of the members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
They included Obas Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Kolawole Adegbola and Hamidu Ajibade -Ashipa Olubadan, Ashipa Balogun and Ekerin Olubadan, respectively.
Also in attendance was the Baba Kekere Olubadan and immediate past senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Kola Balogun.
Others also present at the ceremony included Mogaji Elegbaaowo, Chief Isiaka Raji and Oniroko of Iroko, Ismaila Olasunkanmi Abioye.
