Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has attributed the failure to install a Mogaji for the Aliiwo Ruling House to a division within the family over the choice of its candidate for the position.
The foremost Ibadan traditional ruler stated this in response to the allegation by the Aliiwo Ruling House that its candidate, Prince Kamaldeen Adeboye Giwa, was deliberately schemed out of the installation which was to hold on Monday.
The Aliiwo Ruling House, in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, is the family of the immediate past Olubadan, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
The family claimed that the installation of its Mogaji was approved by the Olubadan Advisory Council, via a letter dated 3rd February, 2025 and signed by the Clerk to the Olubadan Advisory Council, Balogun A. Kolawole.
Pointing finger at the Special Adviser (Chieftaincy Matters) to the Olubadan, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, as the mastermind, the family had alleged in a statement, on Monday, that the botched installation was an attempt to frustrate the appointment of a successor to the immediate past Olubadan.
Senator Kola Balogun stated in the statement that scuttling the installation of the Mogaji at the dying minute was an unbefitting epitaph for the late Olubadan whose demise created the vacuum the new Mogaji was set to fill.
The Aliiwo Ruling House, while exonerating Oba Olakulehin from the alleged conspiracy, tendered the bank tellers for the payment of the required fees and the letter from the Olubadan Advisory Council as evidence of the confirmation of Prince Kamaldeen Adeboye Giwa as its Mogaji.
It stated that, after fulfilling all the necessary Palace requirements in cash and kinds, the Aliiwo family members, both at home and in the Diaspora, mobilised in large numbers to the Oke Aremo Palace of the Olubadan for the installation, only to be utterly disappointed.
“The logic behind the decision which cannot be faulted is that for anybody to be scheduled for installation either as Mogaji or Baale, aside meeting all the palace requirements, there must have been preparations at the family compound or the community to entertain guests.
“So, what happens to the prepared food if an installation is scuttled based on some frivolous petitions or whatever?,” Senator Balogun, a member of the ninth National Assembly, asked in the statement.
However, Oba Olakulehin stated on Tuesday that the anointed Mogaji of the Aliiwo Ruling House was disqualified, along with one other Mogaji and three Baales “because their families were divided and did not present consensus candidates.”
The Olubadan stated in a release by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Olugbemiga Ayoade, that “the peace, unity and progress of Ibadanland, nurtured by family cohesion, equity and justice will not be compromised in the process of installation of traditional title holders in Ibadanland.”
He stated that the Mogaji of Aliiwo was not the only candidate that was not installed, adding that the Mogaji Kojela Isale-Osi Compound (Ibadan South-West) was not installed, along with the Baale Akinsola Village (Akinyele); Baale Agbon Village and Baale Sukuru (both from Lagelu Local Government Area).
The Olubadan further explained that the division in the affected families and their failure to present consensus candidates was “an act which is diametrically opposed to the concept, ideals and values of family headship.”
He added: “The headship of families is an age long tradition of Ibadanland built on the pillars of family unity, cohesion and love. Whoever the family presents must be a consensus candidate without rancour.
“As the consenting authority, I owe it a duty to ensure that persons approved must be representatives of an overwhelming majority of members of the individual families they represent.
“This is a critical and crucial step in promoting peaceful co-existence in Ibadanland which will continue to be a cardinal point of my reign. Those disqualified need to go back to their families and put their house in order.
“No amount of cheap blackmail will derail the Palace from ensuring forthrightness, equity and justice in the execution of the royal duties and assignments entrusted to me as the representative of our forefathers.”
The release from the Olubadan Palace emphasised that installation of traditional title holders in Ibadanland will not be business as usual.
It disclosed that proper screening will be painstakingly conducted “to ensure that Peter is not robbed to pay Paul to ensure that peace reigns supreme before, during and after the installation ceremony in the families and the society at large.”
Oba Olakulehin recalled that screening committees were set up in the 11 local government areas of Ibadanland to ensure that round pegs were put in round holes before the final approval of the Olubadan and his Advisory Council.
