The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has stated that the Olubadan-in-Council’s proposal to elevate the 11 High Chiefs of Ibadanland to beaded-crown-wearing Obas was only accepted by his office under the current law.
Governor Makinde made this statement on Friday during his speech as the Special Guest of Honour at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan, where the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, presented the obas with their thrones and staffs of office.
According to a press release by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State, his administration approved the review because it was instituted internally and it had the backing of the traditional council comprising the Olubadan-in-Council, the Senior Chiefs, Mogajis and Baales in Ibadanland.
According to Makinde, the procedure for presenting beaded crowns to the promoted Obas was in keeping with his campaign promise to respect the chieftaincy system and require that any reviews come from within it.
The review of the traditional system would eventually be necessary, according to Governor Makinde, who emphasised that the Olubadan raised and crowned the Obas. He will not hesitate to approve such a review if the process is carried out correctly.
Governor Makinde also stated that the Ibadan Traditional Council’s internal system review would soon resolve the issues preventing the Oyo State Council of Chiefs meeting.
He said: “We are here today for a major reason. Some people have insinuated that I want to crown High Chiefs that have been elevated to the position of Obas, but is that what you are seeing here today? No. It is the Olubadan of Ibadanland who is crowning the Chiefs.
“Well, this coronation has generated many comments. Some don’t know how we got to this point, but let me use this opportunity to clarify a few of those issues. First, everything we have done here today is premised on the promise that I made to the people of Oyo State and, in particular, the custodians of our tradition.
“As time passes, there will be a need for reforms to our traditional system for one reason or the other. So, I promised that whenever there is a need for such reforms, it has to come from the royal fathers themselves. I don’t know anything about the crown.
“During the 2019 campaign, the issue of the crown generated controversy. Back then, Kabiyesi Olubadan and one of our fathers were among those that went to court. But if our royal fathers say they want internal reforms, as the governor, I will back them up and approve. Today, Kabiyesi Olubadan supports what is being done.
“Out of 11 High Chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council, 10 are being crowned as Obas; that is a majority. But as it is the practice in a democracy, the majority should have their way, while the minority will have their say. So, we have heard what the minority has said and they can approach the court.”
The governor also used the occasion to address the recent Oyo State Chiefs Law amendment.
Makinde said, “Some have even said the amendment of the Chiefs Law was done to give me the sole authority to decide who will wear beaded crowns in Oyo State. And sometimes, one wonders why these mischief-makers come up with stories like these.
“The law has always given the state government authority to approve or disapprove reforms from the traditional systems. So, all we amended was to remove it to refer to the governor and retain it so that this part agrees with the rest of the law.
“The second part of the amendment that is based on subsection one is that any person who is elevated to wear the beaded crown from Baale to minor Chief shall continue to pay obeisance to a prescribed or consenting authority.
“The consenting authority today is the Olubadan of Ibadanland, not the governor of Oyo State. So, the elevation of the Chiefs does not make them, in any way, higher than the Olubadan, the Consenting Authority for this elevation.
“Today, history has been made because those who have planned to go to court will only waste their time. What the traditional chiefs, paramount rulers and residents of Ibadan want us to do is what we have done,” the governor added.
He congratulated the new Obas, challenging them to work for the good of the state’s residents, even as he congratulated the Olubadan for making history, saying: “What is happening today has been destined by God.”
Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Balogun appreciated the governor for approving his request to elevate the members of the Olubadan-in-Council to beaded crown-wearing Obas.
According to Olubadan, the elevation of High Chiefs to beaded crown-wearing Oba is a reconstruction of Ibadan’s rich history in a way as to make it sustainable and enduring, stating that he was sure that posterity “will record us rightly.”
He added that the new development had not altered the uniqueness of the Ibadan traditional system in any way, saying, “The system remains as it is, as nothing changes in our succession plan.”
Traditional rulers from within and outside Oyo State, top government functionaries, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders attended the event.
Among the royal fathers that graced the occasion was the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa, Oba Adewole Solomon; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran; and the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao.
Others were the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale; the Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye; the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Joel Olawuwo; the Aare of Ofiki, Oba Gbenga Adeoye; and the Onigbope of Igbope, Oba Moses Oyetola, among others.
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, was absent at the presentation of crowns and staffs of office to the Obas, which the Olubadan of Ibadanland performed.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recalls that High Chief Ladoja recently broke his silence on the elevation of 11 High Chiefs to the status of beaded crown Oba, saying he was not interested in any crown than that of Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Ladoja, speaking to journalists at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, the state capital, said, “When I set out to join the race to become the Olubadan, I focused on how to become the Olubadan, and the only crown I want to wear is that of Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“I’m not interested in any other crown apart from that of Olubadan of Ibadanland.”
