Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has given the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, 48 hours to reverse the recent promotion of nine prominent Ibadan indigenes by the Olubadan-in-Council.
The directive is contained in a statement signed and released on Monday by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Zaccheaus Jayeola.
Although the statement tried to exonerate the Olubadan from the contentious elevation, recent developments in the state show that Ajimobi and the revered monarch are on collision course.
Odugade is the head of the Olubadan-in-Council and final authority on whatever the body does.
The elevation of the nine high-ranking Ibadan chiefs was done in spite of strong protest by the Ajimobi-led government.
It came less than 24 hours after the state government directed the Ibadan South East Local Government and the affected chiefs to comply with the Chiefs Law of the state, adding that they should “submit a medical report certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws.”
The recent deaths of Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Suleiman Omiyale, and Otun Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye, had made it imperative for the Olubadan-in-Council to elevate some sons of the ancient town.
Chiefs are chosen from two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan – Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (military) – from where Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch.
The newly promoted chiefs are High Chief Saliu Adetunji, who was elevated from Otun Balogun to Balogun of Ibadanland and High Chief (Senator) Lekan Balogun, promoted from Osi Olubadan to Otun Olubadan. The duo are the most senior on the two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan.
Former Osi Balogun, Chief Akinloye Olakuleyin, is now the new Otun Balogun; High Chief (Senator) Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of the state and Ajimobi’s arch political rival was also promoted from Ashipa Olubadan to Osi Olubadan, while Dr. Olufemi Olaifa has moved a step up from Ashipa Balogun to Osi Balogun.
Beneficiaries of the promotion also comprise High Chiefs Eddy Oduoye Oyewole, who got promotion from Ekerin Olubadan to Ashipa Olubadan; Tajudeen Abimbola from Ekerin Balogun to Ashipa Balogun; Kola Daisi from Ekarun Olubadan to Ekerin and former Ekarun Balogun, Solomon Adabale, who is now the new Ekarun Balogun.
Ajimobi wants all the elevation reversed according to Monday’s statement which was copied to Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command; Director, Department of Security Services (DSS), Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health.
Titled “The illegal elevation of nine high chiefs in Ibadanland: The position of the Oyo State Government, the statement reads:
- Government has observed with dismay and utter disappointment the recent ‘elevation’ of nine (9) Ibadan High Chiefs by the Olubadan-in-Council without the mandatory approval of the Government of Oyo State. Government, as required under the Law, stated its position on the procedures for the elevation in its Public Service Announcement of 31st December 2015 and its letter to the OLUBADAN-IN-COUNCIL. The letter was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private secretary.
- It is to be noted for the avoidance of doubt that since the inception of the present administration, Government has resisted, as a matter of policy, any attempt to be lured into religious, chieftaincy and labour union leadership and other contentious issues. This is in order to maintain its neutrality, ensure fairness, justice and respect for the rule of law. Government will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and would neither encourage nor condone any tradition or peculiar culture of illegality, impunity, disregard and/or disrespect to constituted authority. Instead, it has concentrated on its avowed mission on the peace, safety of lives and property, security, welfare and empowerment of the people, infrastructural development, employment generation and urban renewal, among others, to make life more abundant for the teeming populace of the State.
- It is in view of the foregoing that Government notes and states as follows:
(i) Government’s suspicion and ardent belief are that the recent purported elevation could not have received the blessing of our highly revered father and traditional ruler, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. He is reputed to be a forthright and foremost traditional ruler with an enviable track record of achievements and a firm believer in due process as well as a respecter of the rule of law.
(ii) It is for this same reason that the Olubadan of Ibadanland expectedly wrote an earlier letter requesting the Governor’s due approval for the elevation of the nine (9) High Chiefs in accordance with the provisions of Section 14(2) of the Oyo State Chiefs Law.
(iii) As a firm believer in the sacredness of tradition, His Royal Majesty had earlier cautioned and warned against politicising the Olubadan chieftaincy institution.
(iv) Otherwise, what could have been the reason behind the hasty elevation without observing due process, which Government is duly complying with?
(v) While the Government does not have any objection to the proposed elevation nor its beneficiaries, it is however insisting on due process and lawful procedure which had not been followed in the past.
(vi) The appointment and or elevation of deserving persons into the Stool of Part II Chieftaincies can only be made on the approval of His Excellency, the Governor as prescribed by the provision of Chiefs Laws, Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, whilst the Olubadan is the consenting authority.
(vii) On the receipt of the application for the elevation of the Chiefs, His Excellency, the Governor, applying Section 14(2) of the Chiefs Law, referred their names for the mandatory security checks by the Department of Security Services and mandated the candidates to, on their own, provide their certificates of medical status from a Government secondary health institution.
(viii) The status of the due process being carried out by Government was conveyed to the Olubadan via the Ibadan South East Local Government which was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private Secretary, in addition to the Government’s Public Service Announcement of Thursday, 31/12/15 relaying same.
(ix) To further reiterate the legal provision on the issue,
Sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws stipulate relevant sanctions
against whoever contravenes the provisions of the Law.
(x) Apparently, the actions taken on the elevation of the Chiefs as widely publicised is illegal. Moreso, when the Olubadan as the consenting authority had already commenced the due process by seeking the approval of the Governor for the appointment/elevation as prescribed by Law.
- Consequently, Government directs that the organisers and the beneficiaries to reverse the purported elevation WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THIS PUBLICATION, failing which appropriate sanctions will be invoked under sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The case of Ashekoya vs. Olawumi (1962) 1 All NLR 125 is instructive.
