Gbenro Adesina
The installation of a new Olubadan of Ibadanland, after the demise of Oba Adetunji, which to many would be a smooth transition may not be so after all.
According to tradition, Senator Lekan Balogun should have emerged seamlessly as the new Olubadan, however, there are agitations making the round about the status of the high chiefs of the ancient city.
It would be recalled that in August 2017, former Governor of Oyo State, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi elevated the high chiefs, who were members of the Olubadan-in-Council, to kingship status, who he said would be addressed as ‘‘your royal majesties”, while the Olubadan would be addressed as His Imperial Majesty’’.
A letter signed by the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Lana, addressed to the Governor of Oyo State, by MLF Chambers, has pointed out the illegality that may occur in an attempt to install another Olubadan of Ibadanland in view of two subsisting cases in relation to the installation of the high chiefs as obas by late Senator Ajimobi.,
According to the letter by MFL Chamber, dated January 3, 2020, titled, “Re: Installation of a New Olubadan of Ibadanland”, and copied both the state Ministry of Justice and Commissioner for Justice, the installation of a new Olubadan without settling a pending suit bothering on the ancient traditional system, would amount to aberration and illegality.
The letter stated, “May I humbly draw your attention to a traditional aberration and illegality that may occur in an attempt to install another Olubadan of Ibadanland. In view of the existing suit No./22/202o-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS vs GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & ORS”.
”Kindly note, Your Excellency, that your predecessor in office, without thinking of the legal effects of his actions on the future of Ibadan traditional institution, conferred the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and Baales and gave them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets in 2017.
”This action was challenged in suit No M317/2017-HIGH CHIEF RASHIDI LADOJA vs THE GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE. The high court per Aiki J. nullified the said conferment which was actually a total contravention of both the chiefs law and the Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.
”However, the court of appeal, in appeal No.CA/IB/99/2018 set aside the judgment of Aiki J on technical grounds without touching on the merit of the case and sent the case back for retrial.
”Upon your Excellency’s assumption of office, it was resolved that the matter be settled amicably and same was settled through the instrumentality of terms of settlement which became the judgment of the court.
”The said terms of settlement recognized the illegality of the said actions and therefore set aside the gazettes by which the said chiefs became Obas with a right to wear beaded crowns and coronets.
”These high chiefs and Baales were dissatisfied with this consent judgment and therefore instituted two separate suits to set aside the consent judgment while at the same time clinging to the title of Obas (which actually is in contempt of court). One of these cases is suit No.1/22/2020-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS vs GOVERNOR OYO STATE & ORS.
”Now may I draw your Excellency’s attention to the fact that in committing this aberration which changed the Ibadan Chieftaincy customary law, the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration of 1957 was not amended and therefore remains extant.
”Under the declaration and all relevant laws, no oba can ascend to the throne of Olubadan. In other words, as long as the high chiefs still cling to the title of Oba, they can not ascend to that throne and any installation of any of them during the pendency of the suit is illegal, null, and void.
”In the entire history of Ibadan land we have never had such a situation where the legality or otherwise of the installation of the Olubadan would be an issue and this was what your predecessor did not take into consideration before venturing into an illegal journey.
”Ibadan chieftaincy elevation had always been smooth and without any rancor to the envy of all other towns.’
”It is in line with this legal situation that I advice, most humbly, that you should withhold any approval of any high chief to become the Olubadan so that you will not also join in the desecration of Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.”
