• Stops purported installation of Iyalode of Oyo State
By Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Olubadan-in-Council has declared the planned inauguration of Iyalode of Oyo State, by an unidentified private group as illegal. It asserted: “The title is neither recognised by law nor the customary traditions of the region.”
Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Solomon Olugbemiga Ayoade, said, “the council noted that such title is illegal and unknown to the law. The council made the assertion during its meeting presided over by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin.
“The council asked any group by whatever name called to suspend every other chieftaincy installation particularly the one slated for Thursday, November 28, 2024 at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, for peace to reign in the land.”
It frowned at the proliferation of chieftaincy titles among traders in the city. It insisted: “Only those who are installed with the knowledge of the Olubadan palace will be given appropriate recognition.”
An invitation card was sighted by Olubadan-in-Council that one Serifatu (other names withheld) would be installed on dec 12 at Jogor centre as Iyalode of Ibadanland. According to the Chief Press Secretary to Olubadan, “they said they have sent an invite to Olubadan palace but didn’t get approval before proceeding with the installation. That was why Olubadan-in-Council issued statement to stop the installation.”
The council also called on market men and women in the city not to allow unnecessary bickering over political positions to affect their primary mandate of buying and selling in the land:
“Information brought to the attention of the Olubadan-in-Council has it that some unscrupulous elements among the market leaders in the ancient city have perfected plans to install Iyalode of Oyo State. Iyalode is a traditional title, which is not a toy in the hands of any group of people.
“Such installation is illegal and unknown to Oyo state chiefs law 2000 and Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration. The appointment of Iyalode is an exclusive preserve of the people of the town under the leadership of their traditional ruler who is the consenting and presiding authority.
“Each town or city has its own Iyalode, that position is a traditional title which is peculiar to each town. It is not an honorary title that can be dashed out to anyone. Are they saying that the Iyalode of Ibadanland, High Chief (Mrs) Theresa Laduntan Oyekanmi, who waited for 42 years to become Iyalode of Ibadanland to be answerable to an individual who was just handpicked from the street by a faceless group of people?
“We call on the security agencies in the state to arrest and apprehend the sponsors and beneficiaries of this illegal act.”
The meeting which lasted for two hours, was attended by other members of the Olubadan-in-council including, Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola, Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Kolawole Adegbola, Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Eddy Oyewole-Foko, Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Olubunmi Dada-Isioye, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Dauda Abiodun Azeez, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Hamidu Ajibade and Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin.