Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that he had no
plans of deposing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, no
matter the level of provocation and opposition to the recent
installation of new obas in Ibadanland.
He also appealed to members of the Obas-in-Council and all other
newly installed obas in Ibadanland to extend the olive branch to the
Olubadan by visiting him as a way of assuring the paramount ruler that
they bore no grudge against him.
The governor spoke at a meeting he held with the traditional council
of the 11 local governments in Ibadanland, which are being headed by the
Obas-in-Council, formerly known as members of the Olubadan-in-Council,
at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting was also attended by senior chiefs in Ibadanland, members
of the Ibadan Elders’ Forum, chairmen of the 11 local governments and
14 local council development areas in Ibadan as well as members of the
state executive council.
Despite being vested with enormous powers of suspension and
deposition of erring monarch, as enshrined in Cap 28, Section 26 (1) of
the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State 2000, Ajimobi said that he would not invoke
such powers over the Ibadan monarch.
The section reads, “The governor may suspend or depose any chief
(oba) whether appointed before or after the commencement of this law if
it is satisfied that such suspension or deposition is required according
to customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace or order or
good government.’’
Governor Ajimobi, reiterated that Oba Adetunji was his father,
said that he would not do anything that would diminish his status or
bring his exalted stool into disrepute.
He said,
“Let me state that the existing chieftaincy law gives any
governor power to remove any traditional ruler who engages in activities
that can jeopardize the peace of his domain.
“I should also add that Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has of
recent been engaging in certain activities that are inimical to the
peace and tranquility of Ibadan.
“Only recently, Olubadan embarked on a roadshow across Ibadan, waving
horsetail to bystanders in an apparent attempt to incite the people
against the government. Such actions could have pitted the antagonists
and protagonists of installation of new obas against one another.“This is capable of plunging Ibadan metropolis into a crisis of
unimaginable proportion, if not for the understanding and support of the
people for the government. But no matter what happens, I assure you I
will never depose the Olubadan. He remains my father. His palace is just
being used by failed politicians, especially the Accord Party leader,
Chief Rashidi Ladoja, to relaunch his faded political career.
“I hold the Olubadan and his stool in high esteem. This is why I will
also want to beg the obas-in-council to visit Baba and mend their
relationship. If I can’t fight the Olubadan, please you should not fight
him.”
Ajimobi, who described the royal father as a good man, with liberal
disposition, however, expressed the regret that he had allowed his
palace to be hijacked by those he called failed politicians and serial
losers.
He said that their plans were not only to heat up the polity but also
to return Ibadan metropolis to the dark days when arson, violence and
brigandage reigned supreme, all targeted at the 2019 general elections.
The governor added,
“Reports at our disposal indicate that the crisis
that had trailed the appointment of new obas in Ibadan and the gun
attack on the Olubadan palace on Monday might have been masterminded by
these failed politicians.
“They have taken advantage of Kabiyesi’s advanced age to carry out
their nefarious activities and use the palace as the centre of
opposition to the government. What they failed to achieve through the
ballot box, they want to achieve through the back door.
“Our government is not for violence. We don’t encourage brigandage.
It is people like Ladoja who have been promoting violence that were
behind the attack on Olubadan’s palace. It was during Ladoja’s regime
that gunmen shot into the late Baba (Lamidi) Adedibu’s house because of
his opposition to him.
“Ladoja’s supporters caused mayhem in Akure (Ondo State) when he lost
out in his bid to be endorsed as the governorship candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party. During his administration, even the governor’s
office became a theatre of war. All these are on record.”
He, however, vowed not to be intimidated by what he called Ladoja’s pull-him-down syndrome and self-centredness.
Speaking earlier, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin,
expressed appreciation to the governor for the matured way he had
handled the provocative activities of the opponents of the recent review
of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Law.
Olakulehin recalled what he called the overwhelming support members
of the then Olubadan-in-Council gave Oba Adetunji during his nomination
as Olubadan-designate and his eventual colorful coronation by the state
government.
He, however, alleged that the foremost traditional ruler had treated
them with disdain and had embarked on activities that could tarnish the
revered Olubadan stool.
The royal father particularly cited the “unilateral removal of Alhaja
Abake Lawal as the Iyaloja of Ibadanland by Oba Adetunji” allegedly on
the excuse that she was not an Ibadan indigene in spite of the
opposition by the Olubadan-in-Council.
Also, the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe,
rejoiced with the governor on what he called the successful completion
of the Olubadan chieftaincy law review, adding that the Olubadan stool
had further been elevated to the imperial status.
He said that Ladoja’s major grouse with the governor was that he had
no opportunity of carrying out the reform during his own tenure as
governor.
Oba Adebimpe said,
“I will appeal to the citizens of Oyo State to be
praying for good health and strength for the governor because of his
many good intentions. I rejoice with him for seeing the reform through.
He has succeeded where his predecessors have failed.
“I also want to say that the main grouse of my friend is that he was
unable to carry out this reform when he was governor. I salute Ajimobi’s
doggedness and courage. He has taken many valiant and commendable steps
since he became governor.“Maybe, Kabiyesi the Olubadan did not know that the governor had
elevated his status by this review. He is also a beneficiary because he
is now the imperial majesty. Our role now is to be enlightening the
people on the many advantages of the chieftaincy review.”