IBADAN ELEVATED OBAS RETURNS TO OLUBADAN AS RECONCILIATION BEGINS
The Olubadan in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Adeola Oloko said there was abundant evidence that the returning high chiefs were being trapped from where they went, stating further that time would tell.
Penpushing further reports that, the reconciliation team comprising Otun Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, Osi Olubadan, Rasidi Ladoja and Ekarun Olubadan, Amidu Ajibade arrived the palace at about 12.15pm in separate vehicles, while royal father twenty minutes later received them with open arms amid songs, drum beat and trumpet sound.
The Olubadan and the returnees later went into closed door meeting which lasted for about 40 minutes after which journalists were called in to ask questions and take pictures, while a source said a plea for another all-inclusive meeting involving other absent Chiefs was made before the royal father
The source said the monarch consented to the plea for another meeting scheduled to hold on Monday August 19, 2019 after the Id-el-Kabir festival. The first class traditional ruler while responding, the first class monarch thanked the returning High Chiefs for coming, and noted that his support for reconciliation was premised on the need for unity, progress and solidarity of Ibadan.
The Olubadan told the returning High Chiefs that he was all out to protect their interest all along, adding there was abundant evidence that they were being trapped where they went.
Penpushing recalled that, trouble started between the Olubadan and his High Chiefs when the State Government under Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration up graded and approved the High Chiefs as beaded crowns and coronets wearing traditional rulers alongside 38 others across the State, and this followed government review of the 1957 state chieftaincy laws.
The Government said that the approval was in line with the exercise of powers conferred on the Governor by Section 28(1) of the Chiefs Law Cap 28, Vol. 1 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria and by virtue of all other powers enabling in that behalf, stressing that the approval has been gazetted with Oyo State Notice No. 20-67 of Oyo State of Nigeria Gazette No. 3, Vol. 43 published March 29, 2018 and endorsed under the Governor’s Command by the Secretary to the State Government, Ishmael Olalekan Alli.
Penpushing reports that, the government, posited that 26 Obas will wear beaded crown based on the approval, while the remaining 22 will wear coronets, while the Government claimed its decision was taken after due consultation with members of the State’s Council of Obas and Chiefs, both the Olubadan and High Chief Rashidi Ladoja distanced themselves from the decision, describing it as illegal and unlawful and challenged the action in the court.
