… We’re not changing history –Gov

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday said his administration is not changing history, tradition and culture of Ibadanland but, elevating and consolidating the exalted position of the Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, without altering or tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure.
Ajimobi, who arrived at the venue of installation of 21 kings at Mapo Hall arcade, Ibadan, at about 1:38p.m., said the review of Olubadan-in-Council was in pursuant to the Government White Paper on the Justice Akintunde Boade-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Review of the existing Olubadan of Ibadan declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland.
The white paper was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on August 23, 2017 and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincies and related matters as published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol.  42 by Authority in Ibadan on August 24, 2017.
“I wish to state categorically that we are not changing history, we are not changing tradition, we are not changing the culture of Ibadanland; rather, we are elevating and consolidating our traditional institution, the exalted position of the Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, the Olubadan-in-Council and the chieftaincy institution without altering or tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure,” he said.
Ajimobi, who enjoined Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, to distance himself from partisan politics, noted that the recent review had not changed mode of ascension to the stool of Olubadan and added that the government had only promoted Olubadan to ‘His Imperial Majesty’. He said it was imperative for the members of Olubadan-in-Council to be promoted too, and “so, the power of Olubadan has not diminished. He will still be collecting the royalties as he has been doing.
“Olubadan is my father and he is a father to all of us. He should not allow politician to tell him untrue information about the review. Olubadan should not be involved in politics. A politician, we have beaten three times during elections, has been misinforming Olubadan.
“After today, I will go and see Olubadan. It is a politician that has been influencing Olubadan against this review. In the process of the review, Olubadan came to see me and I explained everything to him. I also went to him two times and we also talked about the review. Olubadan accepted the review.”