Hoodlums on Monday invaded the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, disrupting the installation of chiefs.
The hoodlums were believed to have been hired by some prospective Mogajis and Baales. There are contentions as to the choice of some persons as chiefs.
The Olubadan was forced to suspend the installation.
Oba Balogun, in a statement by his personal assistant on media, Oladele Ogunsola, expressed disappointment at the unruly behaviour of supporters of the prospective chiefs.
He said the disruption led to the abrupt end of the programme shortly after the installation of only three out of 10 chiefs slated for the day.
The installation of new Mogajis and Baales was for 10 new chiefs, consisting of five Mogajis and Baales apiece, but which could not be completed due to the invasion of the venue.
The Olubadan said in the statement, “It was a sad scene, seeing miscreants storming the palace, where, accompanied by my members of council seated to perform the traditional rites throwing decorum to the wind in abeyance of the exalted and majestic positions of my members of the council.”
The monarch, who reiterated his commitment to equity, fairness and justice in the exercise of his traditional role, maintained that whoever, after thorough investigation of the incident, is found culpable would be sanctioned.
He sympathised with the other chiefs, who had no contentious issue, but, whose installation could not be done due to the disruption caused by the miscreants, assuring them that what happened was a mere delay and not denial, adding, “their installation would be performed unfailingly at the next exercise.”
Oba Balogun also charged every family presenting candidate for the positions of Baales and Mogajis to do their home work properly to avoid a repeat of Monday’s incident just as he warned against unruly behaviour as experienced on Monday.
He also insisted that every chieftaincy matter should be routed through his personal assistant on chieftaincy matters, Isiaka Akinpelu.
He said, “I have made it clear to the members of public when the palace was reorganised on the need to ensure that chieftaincy matters are made less cumbersome for me and my members of council by going through Chief Akinpelu, whose appointment was made solely to have smooth and stress-free procedures on promotion and installation of chiefs.”
