Oyo State governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that Senator Rashidi Ladoja will merely waste his time going to court to challenge the elevation and crowning of 11 high chiefs as beaded crown-wearing obas.
The governor stated this in his address as Special Guest of Honour at the presentation of crowns and Staff of Office to the obas, on Friday.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II, had elevated and crowned the 11 high chiefs at an event held at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
He crowned 10 of them as beaded crown-wearing obas and presented them with Staff of Office, with Senator Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan, abstaining from the ceremony.
Ladoja had said he was not interested in wearing any beaded crown but that he has just one ambition namely, to become the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
He was therefore reported to have said that he would approach the court to challenge the decision of the Olubadan-in-Council to elevate and crown the other 10 high chiefs beaded crown-wearing obas.
However, Governor Makinde said at the installation ceremony that those who planned to go to court over the decision will only waste their time.
He said he acted in accordance with what the traditional chiefs, paramount rulers and residents of Ibadan wanted.
Governor Makinde explained that the elevation and crowning of 11 high chiefs as beaded crown-wearing obas was done by the Olubadan of Ibadanland and not himself.
He said the decision to make the high chiefs beaded crown-wearing obas was a proposition of the Olubadan-in-Council, but he only gave his approval in line with the extant laws.
The governor said his administration approved the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law because it was instituted internally, with the backing of the Ibadan Traditional Council, comprising the Olubadan-in-Council, the senior chiefs, mogajis and baales in Ibadanland.
Makinde said the process leading to the presentation of beaded crowns to the elevated obas was in line with his campaign commitment not to interfere with the chieftaincy system and that any review must come from within the system.
He said, with the passage of time, there would always be a need for the review of the traditional system and that whenever the process is properly done, he would not shy away from approving such a review.
The governor equally said, with the Ibadan Traditional Council being able to review its system internally, it was only a matter of time before the issues preventing the meeting of Oyo State Council of Chiefs would be resolved internally within the traditional council in the state.
“We are here today for a major reason. Some people have insinuated that I want to crown High Chiefs that have been elevated to the position of obas, but is that what you are seeing here today? No. It is the Olubadan of Ibadanland who is crowning the chiefs.
“Well, this coronation has generated many comments. Some don’t know how we got to this point, but let me use this opportunity to clarify a few of those issues.
“First, everything we have done here today is premised on the promise that I made to the people of Oyo State and, in particular, the custodians of our tradition.
“As time passes, there will be a need for reforms to our traditional system for one reason or the other.
“So, I promised that whenever there is need for such reforms, it has to come from the royal fathers themselves. I don’t know anything about the crown.
“During the 2019 campaigns, the issue of the crown generated controversy. Back then, Kabiyesi Olubadan and one of our fathers were among those that went to court.
“But if our royal fathers say they want internal reforms, as the governor, I will back them up and give approval. Today, Kabiyesi Olubadan is supporting what is being done today.
“Out of 11 High Chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council, 10 are being crowned as beaded crown-wearing obas; that is a majority.
“But as it is the practice in a democracy, the majority should have their way, while the minority will have their say. So, we have heard what the minority has said and they can approach the court,” Makinde said.
The governor also used the occasion to address the recent amendment of the Oyo State Chiefs Law.
“Some have even said the amendment of the Chiefs Law was done to give myself the sole authority to decide who will wear beaded-crowns in Oyo State.
“And sometimes, one wonders why these mischief-makers come up with stories like these.
“The law has always given the state governor authority to approve or disapprove reforms from the traditional systems.
“So, all we amended was to remove it to refer to the governor and retain it so that this part agrees with the rest of the law.
“The second part of the amendment that is based on sub-section one is that any person who is elevated to wear the beaded crown from baale to minor chief shall continue to pay obeisance to a prescribed or consenting authority.
“The consenting authority today is the Olubadan of Ibadanland, not the Governor of Oyo State.
“So, the elevation of the chiefs does not make them, in any way, higher than the Olubadan, who is the Consenting Authority for this elevation.
“Today, history has been made because those who have planned to go to court will only waste their time.
“What the traditional chiefs, paramount rulers and residents of Ibadan want us to do is what we have done,” the governor added.
He congratulated the new beaded crown-wearing obas and challenged them to work for the good of the residents of the state.
The governor also congratulated the Olubadan for making history, saying: “What is happening today has been destined by God.”
Earlier, the Olubadan, Oba Balogun, appreciated the governor for giving approval to his request for the elevation of the members of the Olubadan-in-Council to beaded crown-wearing obas.
According to him, the elevation of high chiefs to beaded crown-wearing obas is a reconstruction of Ibadan’s rich history in a way as to make it sustainable and enduring.
Oba Balogun further stated he was sure that posterity “will record us rightly.”
He said the new development had not, in any way, altered the uniqueness of the Ibadan traditional system, saying: “The system remains as it is, as nothing changes in our succession plan.”
The new beaded crown-wearing obas include High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola and Eddy Oyewole, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Otun Balogun and Osi Olubadan, respectively.
Also included are High Chiefs Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun); Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ashipa Olubadan); and Kolawole Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun).
Others are High Chiefs Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan); Dada Isioye (Ekerin Balogun); Adebayo Akande (Ekarun Olubadan); and Abiodun Dauda Azeez (Ekarun Balogun).
The event was attended by traditional rulers from within and outside Oyo State, top government functionaries and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the state.
Royal fathers present were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, represented by the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa, Oba Adewole Solomon; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran; and the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao.
Others were the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale; the Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye; the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Joel Olawuwo; the Aare of Ofiki, Oba Gbenga Adeoye; and the Onigbope of Igbope, Oba Moses Oyetola, among others.
