From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, declared, yesterday, he does not feel threatened over the Olubadan chieftancy reforms.
Ajimobi said this during commissioning of the reconstruction of 5.5-kilometre Mobil Junction-Are-Oluyole-Wema Road in Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor also declared that the people abusing him for initiating and implementing reform of traditional institution in Ibadanland, today, will praise him in future.
He also appealed to Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji not to allow politicians use him because he is a respectable father of Ibadanland.
“Those abusing us that we installed new kings in Ibadan will praise us in the future.
“Let them continue to abuse us, it does not reduce us.
“People also abused Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he started free education. But, today, we are praising him.
“I thank God that he used my administration to carry out Olubadan of Ibadanland chieftaincy reform. But, nobody can threaten me because I also hail from Ibadan.
“Olubadan is a good father, but, at times, when politicians have penetrated the traditional institution in Ibadanland, they can influence him.
“The politicians acting behind the scene, we have beaten them many times during elections.
“(The) Almighty God has sent me to do what I am doing. So, whoever opposes us will be beaten. Olubadan is not the one opposing the reform, but the politicians, acting underground.
“We are dreamers, actualisers and builders. We always dream and God has been helping us to turn the dreams to reality. But, they are only dreamers and they have the history of not completing any project they embarked on.”
The governor said Olubadan’s stiff opposition to the recent review and reform of the chieftaincy system could not have been masterminded by Oba Adetunji but some politicians who wanted his administration to fail.
Ajimobi recalled that former premier of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was also abused by the people when he introduced free education in the region “before they started praising him for the wonderful policy.”
The newly-installed 21 kings in Ibadan, comprising eight members of the Olubadan-in-Council and 13 coronet-wearing monarchs, also made their first public outing, yesterday, when they attended the commissioning of the road project at Oluyole Junction, Mobil Area and Ring Road, Ibadan.
The appearance of the new kings with their crowns and staff of office at the event was to the admiration of a large crowd who attended the event. The new monarchs said their new status added colours to the event.
Monarchs who attended the event included Oba Lekan Balogun, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Latifu Adebimpe, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Oba Amidu Ajibade and Oba Kolawole Adegbola.
Ajimobi noted that a former colonial governor of Lagos Colony, from 1899 to 1904, Sir William MacGregor, started the reform of traditional institution in Nigeria, and added that it was a reform of the traditional institution that elevated the status of Olubadan, in 1930, from baale to Oba.