12th December, 2017
Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 has described the purported threat of 21 new Ibadan kings to recommend him for removal as an affront to the people of Ibadan and end of the year entertainment programme.
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Adeola Oloko, the front line monarch, who stated that the so-called Oba-in-Council was unknown to the Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws, wondered how a group of educated individuals such as the embattled high chiefs could resort to illegality by commenting on a matter before the court.
The monarch said, “Hearing continues tomorrow 13 December at the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan in a suit filed by the Olubadan against the Oyo State Government on the controversial chieftaincy review. I plead with the court to take judicious notice of the persistent contempt of court on the matter before it by the defendants in recent times. If a scapegoat is not made of at least one or two culprits, there may be no end to court contempt”.
Talking about the issue raised by the so-called Oba-in-Council; Olubadan contended that the council in question which comprised high chiefs and Olubadan only is basically an advisory council with no force of law, customs and traditions backing it.
“In the same vein, baale whom the embattled high chiefs have added to themselves to become 21 are not members of Olubadan-in-Council and therefore should not be dressed in borrowed robe, as they have no power whatsoever over their lord,” he added.
Oba Adetunji contended further that there was no time that the embattled high chiefs were barred from attending palace activities, adding that they were the ones who spurned palace invitation in their desperate rush for multiple crowns and cheap royalties.
He expressed delight that despite their absence from official palace activities, the Olubadan had been exercising his duties without let or hindrance.
He stated that even when they were being harassed and molested in the city streets and called unprintable names, he had been trying his best to calm down frayed nerves in order to guarantee their safety and security by going to court to diffuse tension.
Oba Adetunji stated that as the Yoruba proverb says that ‘okro can never outgrow its reaper,’ an high chief could not outgrow the king by threatening to recommend him for removal.
“By custom and tradition, no Olubadan has been recommended for removal from office by any high chief or group of high chiefs at any time and my own reign will not be an exception. At least, we have received applications from families of about four of the embattled high chiefs asking for their immediate replacement.
“But, like a prodigal son, we hope that they would sooner than later renounce the unrecognised crowns and return to the warm embrace of their father as the palace door is perpetually open. The high chiefs are hereby advised to emulate high chiefs in other places, who are not wearing crowns but still earn respect of their people for peace and progress to reign supreme in the land”, he said.
He urged the high chiefs not to exercise fears yet, as their seats would not be declared vacant in the absence of court verdict.