Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Tuesday, told the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Balogun, and 20 others who were installed as kings by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State that the crown they are wearing “is fake, just a mere carton, without traditional backing”.
Ajimobi crowned them at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Sunday, August 27.
The Olubadan spoke while receiving family heads (Mogajis) under the auspices of Authentic Ibadan Mogajis (AIM) who had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to Ajimobi to withdraw some statements considered offensive to the stool of the Olubadan.
Drawing the battle line at his Popoyemoja Palace, Oba Adetunji said Ajimobi and the 21 monarch-kings “are racing against destiny”.
The Mogajis had protested against Ajimobi at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) office. They also addressed the media.
Oba Adetunji said: “I waited for 40 years before being made king. I urge the high chiefs who were crowned king by the state government to allow providence work in their favour too.
“I started as a Mogaji. I was moving step by step before I assumed the throne after 40 years. I thank God for that. We must all love one another. If you love yourself and hate others, your purpose of love is nothing. I was called by the elders of my family to come and become a Mogaji more than 40 years ago. I rejected it and for three years, they were persuading me.
“In trying to convince me, the representative of my family told me that it could be that one day, I would become a king. I then accepted it and became the Mogaji of my family. I waited on God and He made me king.
“Those who were crowned a few weeks ago know within themselves that they are wearing fake crowns, it is just a carton crown. I began my journey more than 40 years, why can’t they wait for their turn? If you don’t wait for your turn, you will be on the wrong side of destiny.”
The king also chided some Ibadan elders who allegedly said that he consented to the move by Ajimobi to crown new kings in the city.
His position on the Ibadan elders was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the monarch, Adeola Oloko.
The statement reads: “The Olubadan described as untrue and unfounded the statement credited to a group of Ibadan elders that Kabiyesi had consented to the controversial chieftaincy review embarked upon by the Oyo State Government resulting in the controversial crowning of 21 new kings.
“Oba Adetunji stated that the elders should not mislead Ibadan people into believing what he did not say, as what he said was that Governor Ajimobi, over whom they have come to plead, is his son and that he would not want a third party intervention over the matter. The Olubadan said for the avoidance of doubt, his opposition to the elevation of high chiefs to kingship status without domain remains the same.
“The Olubadan said that he cannot see how he will bless the high chiefs who have refused to wait for their turn before stepping forward to take crowns from the government, contrary to our tradition and custom.”
“The king said that the same Ibadan Elders’ Forum stoutly opposed former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s move to elevate six Baales in their letter dated April 24, 2009. On page two of that letter titled. ‘The composition of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs’ signed by Ambassador Olu Sanu and Onaolapo Ajibola, they stated, ‘The (Ibadan Chieftaincy) system had worked for ages and ensured peace and stability in Ibadanland and the Forum would, therefore, not want the government to tamper with the system in order not to create confusion and ill-feeling’.
“The first class monarch has, therefore, urged the Ibadan elders to stop contradicting themselves and creating confusion for peace and progress of Ibadan land,” the statement stated.
Earlier, the Mogajis opposed to the crowning of 21 monarch-kings, said that the approach of the government in rushing the process and performing the coronation on a Sunday showed that it probably had other motives beyond what was said to the people.
The conference was held amid tight security.
After the conference, the Mogajis moved to the Olubadan palace in a long convoy.
In a statement signed by former deputy governor of the state, Azeem Gbolarumi, who is the Mogaji Olugbesan Family in Agbokojo area of Ibadan, entitled: ‘Political onslaught on Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration: Threat to unity and monolithic structure in Ibadanland’, the group stated that the White Paper released by the government on the review was an attempt to distort history, culture and monolithic tradition unique to Ibadan land.
The group faulted crowning of Baales, who are under the Mogajis, and high chiefs.
It described the move as an attempt by Ajimobi to erode the authority of the Olubadan as the prescribed authority over minor chiefs in accordance with Sections 5 and 22 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The group said that the power given to the Olubadan by the white paper was like ‘bull dog without a teeth to bite’.
“It is our prayer that Oyo State rescinds and reverses the decision and maintain status quo ante bellum, a position before the creation of hostilities by the Oyo State Government. The high chiefs that were promoted have no territorial governance and cannot exercise right of obaship. No socio-economic development can be associated with a warrant oba.
“It is a creation of political expediency. There is no authority to be exercised over particular territory. In order words, no legitimacy can be conferred on them by the citizens, thus negating the principle of ruler and subject. Any government trying to lure chieftaincy matter into political manoeuvring in whatever guise is igniting a Pandora box of violence full of gunpowder, capable of exploding any time.”