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From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has made the position of his administration known on the controversy trailing who will become the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, following the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso, who joined his ancestors on Sunday January 2, 2022.
The governor said the Ibadan traditional institution must revert to its original concept, the way it was before 2017 when former governor of the state, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s administration elevated all the 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council from ‘High Chiefs’ to beaded crown wearing monarchs. But the Osi Olubadan and former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, did not accept the crown then.
Makinde gave the directives on Tuesday when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Oba Adetunji at Popoyemoja.
Ladoja challenged the elevation in court and won. The Oyo State High Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Olajumoke Aiki, in January 2018, declared the elevation null, void, illegal and of no effect. When the matter got to the Appeal Court through the former administration in the state, the judgment of the lower court was set aside on technical ground. The higher court ordered that the case be returned to the high court for retrial.
By the time the case got back to the Oyo State High Court for retrial, a new administration of Governor Makinde had come on board. The administration opted for out-of-court settlement with Ladoja. The terms of agreement formed tbe second judgment delivered on the case by the high court, that nullified the elevation of ‘High Chiefs’ to Royal Majesties, and also set aside the gazette that elevated them. But those that were promoted as kings went to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they were not carried along when the agreement was reached and the judgment was delivered. The Appellate Court, as gathered, is set to deliver judgment on the case.
But on Tuesday when Makinde paid condolence visit to the bereaved royal family, he said: “This is the last time such controversy on who will succeed any late Olubadan and who is not ripe for the throne will ever surface.
”And as a government, I am giving you the assurance, to all indigenes and residents of Ibadan that what our late monarch stood for in his lifetime is what I will enforce. Whoever is willing can key into it. I know baba (Oba Adetunji) is watching us and he will give us support to do what is right and acceptable to preserve the integrity and the sanctity of Ibadan Traditional Institution.”
