The reported plan to review the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law has been described as a right decision that should be taken in the best interest of Ibadanland.
Though there is no official information yet on the said plan by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to elevate the High Chiefs in the Olubadan-In-Council to obas, two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress APC (APC) in Oyo State have thrown their weight behind the planned elevation.
Professor Gbade Ojo, former Chief of Staff to late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Mr Adebayo Ojo SAN, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, made their positions known while speaking on a radio programme today.
Mr. Dele Ogunsola, spokesman of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II, had earlier clarified that the Chieftaincy Law reform was proposed by the Olubadan-in-Council in a letter sent to the governor.
Ogunsola, who spoke through a voice recording on another radio programme was said to have stated that the Palace was yet to get the response of the state government on the impending review.
While Professor Gbade Ojo said the planned review of the Chieftaincy Law will better serve the interest of the people of Ibadan, Adebayo Ojo commended Governor Makinde’s courage for seeking to take such a step.
The former Attorney General said the move by the governor “is a bold and courageous one.”
Speaking further, the former Oyo Commissioner for Justice said: “Sincerely, I must commend him for that courage and boldness. I pray he is able to see it through. Believe me, it is a right step in the right direction.”
He added that what Governor Makinde is trying to do is different from what former Governor Ajimobi did in 2017 when he elevated the High Chiefs and Baales to crown and coronet-wearing obas.
He maintained that the ongoing process started from the Olubadan-in-Council, noting that the bottom-up approach employed this time round made the whole process different.
“What the governor has done is quite different from what happened in the past. The difference is that the consenting authority, which is the Olubadan, had already held a meeting with the Olubadan-in-Council.
“And it has been agreed upon by them, and they just informed the Governor to seek his approval.
“It is home-goal and like a bottom-top approach unlike then, which came from the top to the bottom.”
Ojo equally allayed the fears that the elevation of Baales would affect the chieftaincy system in the wrong way.
“Ibadan is very unique in the sense that the mogajis in Ibadan are superior to the baales in the village. Meanwhile, the Baales have their palaces and traditional councils.
“It is only people who understand the unique nature of the Ibadan Traditional System that will understand what the late Ajimobi and other government did then, which is now what Governor Makinde is validating.
“I believe this move is in the best interest of the city,” the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state further said.
In the same vein, Professor Gbade Ojo hailed the touted reform by Governor Makinde as being in the best interest of the people of Ibadan.
“Yes, I can tell you that it is in the best interest of the people of Ibadan. In fact, the late Chief Theophilus Akinyele was one of the people in the vanguard of the reform when he was alive.
“Equally, Professor Bolanle Awe and the CCII saw reasons why Ibadan should not remain static and it has been done now, which is good.
“Over time, the innovation will become tradition and culture of Ibadan that High Chiefs will be wearing coronets and Olubadan wearing crown as Imperial Majesty to the extent that they feel fulfilled that they die as Obas.
“In a case of misdemeanour, the Olubadan can discipline any of them,” Gbade Ojo said in affirming his position on the planned review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law.
