A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola, has said that the presentation of instruments of office to three newly-elevated Obas in Ibadanland was in order and within the ambit of the law.
Akintola, who is the Bashorun Bamofin of Ibadanland, stated this on Saturday while appearing on a radio programme, noting that neither the Oyo State Government nor the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja, acted contrary to the law or the dictate of the reviewed Ibadan Chieftaincy System.
He explained that the development meant that the Ibadan traditional system, touted as the best worldwide, has now been codified, which should ordinarily gladden the hearts of Ibadan sons and daughters.
He lauded former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his successor, ‘Seyi Makinde, for thinking outside the box on the Ibadan traditional system by achieving what Ibadan people had been clamouring for over the decades, noting that Ibadan, with over 33 towns, now has 11 Obas, who are all under the authority of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
He said: “Yesterday was Good Friday and a good day for all the people of Ibadan both at home and in the diaspora. The significance of the event was that the tradition of Ibadanland has now been codified, and it should gladden the heart of every Ibadan son and daughter, because our traditional system has been adjudged as the best in the world.
“The law has been amended, and the tradition has now been codified. People should go and read it. There is nothing wrong with what was done yesterday. Everything is within the ambit of the law. It’s within the ambit of the law. And ignorance of the law is not an excuse, because many people don’t read.
“We are grateful to the Almighty God, who empowered and endowed two of our sons, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Governor Seyi Makinde to think outside the box and codify some of these traditional methods of doing things.
“So, it is very significant. This has just confirmed what the people of Ibadan have been clamouring for, which they have been doing over the years.”
According to him, the fact that the event was held without the presence of any of the three elevated Obas and the Olubadan did not violate any law, neither did it negate the action.
Akintola, who dispelled the claim that the process was politically motivated, said the process came after the Olubadan wrote to the state government following a petition by one of the elevated Obas, who berated the stalling of the elevation process.
He further noted that the issue of whether someone high on the Olubadan succession ladder could participate in politics also predated the Makinde administration, as according to him, the issues started during the reign of Oba Michael Odulana, when High Chief Lamidi Adedibu was asked to choose either of politics or the royal ascendancy.
“Let me make it clear, I am not a traditional chief, I am an honorary chief, and there is nothing that I can say on things I know little or nothing about. But as an Ibadan elite, I was privileged to be in the palace of our past traditional ruler, His Imperial Majesty Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I. When it was time for Baba Adedibu to enter the council, the issue came up, and as a matter of fact, the then Olubadan gave Baba Adedibu an ultimatum, either to abdicate and leave his position, or continue politicking. I remember that very many of us gathered there, I mean those of us who were at home then, I remember that Senator Teslim Folarin was there.
“So, contrary to what many people are speculating out there, it was one of the recipients of the crowns that wrote a petition. In line with the law, he wrote a petition, and the Olubadan acted on it by writing to the governor. These three people are now qualified to wear a beaded crown by virtue of section 20 of the amended law of Oyo State, which I said was initially amended by Governor Ajimobi and was further amended by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“So, I have not seen anything wrong with what Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja did, and what the governor did. Both acted within the ambit of the law. And, as a matter of fact, the crowning of the Obas yesterday was initiated by the recipients themselves, which the Olubadan of Ibadanland acted upon. Of course, the governor enforced. That was the situation.”
Responding to a question on whether the absence of the elevated Obas and even the Olubadan at the event invalidated the proclamation of their new statuses, Chief Akintola, SAN said: “Certainly not. If you are being promoted even in your place of work, you don’t need to be at home. You don’t need to be there. It’s a hierarchical thing, whether you are there or not. Once it is your turn, you can’t jump. And in any case, they themselves wrote for it. One of them wrote for it. So that’s what happened.
“As for Olubadan of Ibadanland not being in attendance, you have just told the listeners that he was represented with the Staff of Office, and the representative made a speech on his behalf.
“The Olubadan has not denied that he didn’t send the Balogun. The Balogun was there with the Staff of Office of the Olubadan. That confirms the presence of Olubadan of Ibadanland. Also, the fact that the governor was represented by the deputy governor, doesn’t mean that the governor was not there.
“Of course, each of them has become His Royal Highness. Some people are ignorant of Ibadan tradition. Ibadan is a megacity with 33 towns, bigger than some state capitals. There are 11 people in the Olubadan council. Each of them has about one or two towns under him. And I ask you, you who live in this city, look at Moniya. Is it not a big town? Look at Iroko there. Look at Ido, look at Omo-Adio, look at Lalupon, look at Erunmu, look at Egbeda, look at Aba-nla, look at Odeyale, look at Akanran. There are so many towns that these Obas superintend. Most of these comments made by the ignorant people are because of their shallow level of knowledge.
“We were all there, virtually all of us were there yesterday. Even the President of our umbrella body (CCII), Chief Niyi Ajewole, was there and he made a speech, which shows that it was acceptable to all of us in Ibadanland.
“I have just explained that High Chief Adedibu was not even an Oba when he was taking part in politics. It took the efforts of Alhaji Arisekola to come and douse the tension. We were all there at the palace of the then Oba. It is a tradition, and I remember we have been clamouring for this thing for long, that a city that is bigger than many states in the country; a town bigger than many cities in the country, should not be governed by only one Oba and our traditions have recognised this. That was why all the 33 towns are placed under those Obas, who are of lesser importance than the Olubadan. The Olubadan is the overall head and that is why he is the Imperial Majesty. And he superintends over all.
“But each of the Obas has one or two towns under him. And don’t forget, when we clamoured for more Obas in Ibadanland to be elevated from less city, the Olomi of Omi Adio, Onido of Ido and all of them were elevated. It was the Commissioner for Local Government that came to give them the beaded crown. The Deputy Governor was not even there. So, this thing is not statutory.”
