Much noise around royalty status and chieftaincy reform in Ibadan
Another review of the Olubadan declaration of chieftaincy and the concomitant proliferation of crowns in Ibadan has raised more dust than necessary for real progress in the state, writes ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE.
The controversy that followed Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State's revision of the Olubadan Declaration came as no surprise to many natives of the ancient city. This is because of the sour relationship between him and the former governor of the state, Rasheed Ladoja.
The two politicians had exploited the revised chieftaincy law to allow Olubadan-in-Council members to wear beaded crowns to fight the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the out-of-power All Progressives Congress (APC). This action paved the way for Makinde, who was then a candidate for the governorship of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.
Ladoja, who was a leader of the Zenith Labor Party (ZLP), led four other opposition parties to campaign for Makinde and the issue of revising the Olubadan Declaration, which had polarized the natives of Ibadan, became a weapon for politicians to advance their interests.
Shortly after Makinde won the election, he fell out with Ladoja, who is said to have worked against the governor's re-election this year. Consequently, Makinde turned around and revisited the controversial revision of Olubadan's declaration, which Ladoja said was against his interest. This sparked another legal battle over whether Olubadan council members, also known as high chiefs, should wear beaded crowns.
Despite criticism of Ibadanland's immediate past Olubadan, the late Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Ladoja, and former Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Lekan Balogun, six other Olubadan members in council and 21 Baales, were granted royalty status by the late Ajimobi in August 2017.
The coronation was done after reviewing the 1957 declaration of chiefdom of Olubadan and other related chiefdoms in Ibadanland.
This was done pursuant to “Section 28 (i) Cap. Flight. 1 of the Chiefs of Oyo State in Nigeria Act 2000, and in accordance with the provisions of the 1959 Amended Declaration of Olubadan and Other Related Chiefdoms in Ibadanland and the Government White Paper as transmitted in Government Gazette No. 14, Notice 27 Vol. 42 of August 24, 2017 and Gazette No. 15 Notice 28 Vol 42 of August 24, 2017.”
This took place after Judge Akintunde Boade's review panel recommended that Ibadan should have 32 Obas wearing the crown in addition to the Olubadan.
The late Oba Adetunji and Senator Ladoja went to court to challenge the action and won. The senior crowned chiefs and the Baales appealed the verdict, but the disappearance of Oba Adetunji on January 2, 2022 and the government's decision that Senator Lekan Balogun, who was to succeed Oba Adetunji, should withdraw the appeal to allow him to achieve his ambition to become the Olubadan blocked the case.
Grand Chief Balogun and other beleaguered Grand Chiefs accepted the government's decision and Balogun was crowned Olubadan of Ibadan. BUT much to the chagrin of many in the state, the government announced in May 2023 that it had reached an agreement to amend Section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Act 2023 to allow Grand Chiefs to wear beaded crowns.
The law has been sent to the state legislature and it has been revised. As a result, Oba Balogun crowned 10 great chiefs as kings, while Ladoja stayed away.
In his statement, Ladoja alleged that Olubadan was plotting that "if he" refused to be crowned, he would be denied his status as Otun Olubadan of the land of Ibadan and that he would not be allowed to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland when it was his turn."
When the battle started in 2017, it was Ladoja and Makinde against Ajimobi and Balogun, but now it's Ladoja against Makinde and Oba Balogun.
Many residents of the ancient city believe it will be a different ballgame this time as all the major players understand the politics of the throne despite the fact that Oba Balogun resigned from active politics before assuming the throne.
Moreover, many wonder if there was no love lost between Makinde...
Another review of the Olubadan declaration of chieftaincy and the concomitant proliferation of crowns in Ibadan has raised more dust than necessary for real progress in the state, writes ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE.
The controversy that followed Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State's revision of the Olubadan Declaration came as no surprise to many natives of the ancient city. This is because of the sour relationship between him and the former governor of the state, Rasheed Ladoja.
The two politicians had exploited the revised chieftaincy law to allow Olubadan-in-Council members to wear beaded crowns to fight the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the out-of-power All Progressives Congress (APC). This action paved the way for Makinde, who was then a candidate for the governorship of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.
Ladoja, who was a leader of the Zenith Labor Party (ZLP), led four other opposition parties to campaign for Makinde and the issue of revising the Olubadan Declaration, which had polarized the natives of Ibadan, became a weapon for politicians to advance their interests.
Shortly after Makinde won the election, he fell out with Ladoja, who is said to have worked against the governor's re-election this year. Consequently, Makinde turned around and revisited the controversial revision of Olubadan's declaration, which Ladoja said was against his interest. This sparked another legal battle over whether Olubadan council members, also known as high chiefs, should wear beaded crowns.
Despite criticism of Ibadanland's immediate past Olubadan, the late Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Ladoja, and former Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Lekan Balogun, six other Olubadan members in council and 21 Baales, were granted royalty status by the late Ajimobi in August 2017.
The coronation was done after reviewing the 1957 declaration of chiefdom of Olubadan and other related chiefdoms in Ibadanland.
This was done pursuant to “Section 28 (i) Cap. Flight. 1 of the Chiefs of Oyo State in Nigeria Act 2000, and in accordance with the provisions of the 1959 Amended Declaration of Olubadan and Other Related Chiefdoms in Ibadanland and the Government White Paper as transmitted in Government Gazette No. 14, Notice 27 Vol. 42 of August 24, 2017 and Gazette No. 15 Notice 28 Vol 42 of August 24, 2017.”
This took place after Judge Akintunde Boade's review panel recommended that Ibadan should have 32 Obas wearing the crown in addition to the Olubadan.
The late Oba Adetunji and Senator Ladoja went to court to challenge the action and won. The senior crowned chiefs and the Baales appealed the verdict, but the disappearance of Oba Adetunji on January 2, 2022 and the government's decision that Senator Lekan Balogun, who was to succeed Oba Adetunji, should withdraw the appeal to allow him to achieve his ambition to become the Olubadan blocked the case.
Grand Chief Balogun and other beleaguered Grand Chiefs accepted the government's decision and Balogun was crowned Olubadan of Ibadan. BUT much to the chagrin of many in the state, the government announced in May 2023 that it had reached an agreement to amend Section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Act 2023 to allow Grand Chiefs to wear beaded crowns.
The law has been sent to the state legislature and it has been revised. As a result, Oba Balogun crowned 10 great chiefs as kings, while Ladoja stayed away.
In his statement, Ladoja alleged that Olubadan was plotting that "if he" refused to be crowned, he would be denied his status as Otun Olubadan of the land of Ibadan and that he would not be allowed to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland when it was his turn."
When the battle started in 2017, it was Ladoja and Makinde against Ajimobi and Balogun, but now it's Ladoja against Makinde and Oba Balogun.
Many residents of the ancient city believe it will be a different ballgame this time as all the major players understand the politics of the throne despite the fact that Oba Balogun resigned from active politics before assuming the throne.
Moreover, many wonder if there was no love lost between Makinde...
What's Your Reaction?
