Governor Of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, on Sunday presented staffs of office to 21 new kings in Ibadan, the state capital.
At a ceremony held at Mapo Hall in
Ibadan, the governor said he had nothing against the Olubadan of Ibadan
land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who was not at the ceremony, adding that the
appointment of the new kings followed due process.
The governor stated that thenceforth,
the Olubadan would be addressed as His Imperial Majesty, while members
of the Olubadan–in-Council, who were also elevated to kingship status,
would be addressed as ‘‘your royal majesties.’’
The governor also explained that the promoted baales would be addressed as ‘‘your royal highnesses.’’
The elevated members of the
Olubadan-in-Council, who were present to receive their instruments of
office were the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Senator Lekan Balogun; the
Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan land, Eddy Oyewole; the Balogun of Ibadan
land, Owolabi Olakuleyin; the Osi Balogun of Ibadan land, Tajudeen
Ajibola; the Asipa Balogun of Ibadan land, Latifu Adebimpe; the Ekarun
Balogun of Ibadan land, Dr Kolawole Adegbola; the Ekerin Olubadan of
Ibadan land, Abiodun Kola-Daisi; and the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland,
Amidu Ajibade.
The Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja, was not present at the ceremony.
The elevated baales are the Onijaye of
Ijaye, Oba Lasisi Akano; the Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Ismaila Opeola; the
Onikereku of Ikereku, Oba Moses Akinyosoye; the Ololodo of Olodo, Oba
Mudasiru Adebayo, and the Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Victor Sunday Okunola.
Others are the Onido of Ido, Oba
Gbolagade Babalola, Alakufo of Akufo, Oba Olabamiji Thomas, the Oloke of
Okelade-Okin, Oba Wahab Okedina; the Alawotan of Awotan, Oba Dauda
Omotoso, Olofa of Offa, Oba Adeboye Salako, the Onilagun of Lagun, Oba
Rafiu Alawusa, the Alaba of Aba-Nla, Oba Tiamiyu Ladipo, and the
Alakanran of Akanran, Oba James Obisesan.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony
were the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulraseed Akanbi; Niyi Akintola (SAN), a
former president-general of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes,
Chief Bayo Oyero; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Oyo
State, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji
Daud Akinola; and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the
state, Akin Oke.
The governor described the event as a
day that great sons and daughters of Ibadanland came together to elevate
and transform the chieftaincy institution of Ibadan land.
He said, “I am delighted to be at this
occasion where history is being made in Ibadan land. Today, we are all
gathered to witness the crowning ceremony, presentation of certificates
and staff of office to the High Chiefs who are members of the
Olubadan–in Council and 13 baales in Ibadan land who have been elevated
to the position of obas.
“I wish to state categorically that we
are not changing history, we are not changing tradition, we are not
changing the culture of Ibadan land; rather, we are elevating and
consolidating our traditional institution, the exalted position of the
Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, the
Olubadan-in-Council and the chieftaincy institution without tinkering
with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan
chieftaincy structure.”
The governor added that successive
governments in Oyo State had engaged in reviewing the 1959 Olubadan
Chieftaincy Declaration made pursuant to the 1957 Chiefs Laws and other
related chieftaincies in Ibadan land.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to
advise the new kings to use their elevated royal positions to promote
peace and unity of the citizenry. We also congratulate the Olubadan of
Ibadanland and advise that Kaabiyesi should remain the father of all
Ibadan citizens and not allow himself to be used as observed in his
recent utterances which tend towards the political. It should be noted
that Obas are not expected to play politics,” added the governor.
Speaking on behalf of the new kings,
Oba Lekan Balogun said the action of the governor meant that the city
had caught up with the rest of the Yoruba in the South-West. He said it
would help the agitation for Ibadan State as it would be unpalatable to
have only one king in a state.
