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Tag: Olubadan

  • Chieftaincy review: We’re not celebrating High Court judgement – Olubadan

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Sunday said he and his supporters are not celebrating the State High Court’s judgment which declared the panel that recommended the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration a nullity.

    Recall that an Oyo State High Court, on Friday, declared the panel and the activities it produced as illegal.

    This means the 21 obas crowned on the heels of the review of the chieftaincy law would forfeit their crowns, if the judgment is not upturned.

    The Olubadan said the review had divided Ibadan indigenes, adding that this did not gladden his heart as the father of all.

    His Imperial Majesty, who spoke through his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Adeola Oloko, said: “We are not celebrating or humiliating anybody. For us, there is no victor, no vanquished. To be candid, the incident has divided Ibadan indigenes. This is displeasing to the Olubadan because he is the overall father of all indigenes. What we want is the unity of all Ibadan indigenes and preservation of the Ibadan Chieftaincy system.

    “The high chiefs have the right to appeal the judgment. However, we shall wait for the outcome of the appeal, if they do. Otherwise, we expect them to comply with the judgment.”

    The Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who refused to accept the beaded crown, challenged the establishment of the panel and its recommendations in court.

    Justice Olajumoke Aiki delivered the judgment in the case filed against Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Justice Akintunde Boade, who chaired the judicial commission of enquiry that reviewed the declaration.

    Ajimobi, on May 19, last year, set up a judicial commission of enquiry to review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies laws in Ibadan.

    Accordingly, a report was submitted by the panel last August and a White Paper on the report was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on August 23, last year and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincies and Related Matters published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol. 42 by Authority in Ibadan on August 24, last year.

     

  • Court fixes Feb. 12 for hearing on Olubadan throne tussle

    An Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, has fixed Feb. 12 for hearing on a suit filed by Chief Adebayo Oyediji, challenging the installation of Oba Saliu Adetunji, as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

    Reports say that Oyediji of Seriki chieftaincy line and three others, were challenging the installation of Adetunji by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

    The other claimants in the suit were Chief Olalekan Fakunle, Chief Rasheed Abinupagun and Chief Gabriel Amao.

    Justice Moshood Abass on Wednesday fixed February 12 for hearing of the suit after the claimants’ counsel, Mr Sarafadeen Adebayo informed the court that all processes needed in prosecuting the case had been filed by both parties.

    Abass ordered that hearing notices be served on the counsel to the respondents because they were not present in court on Wednesday.

    The claimants’ counsel, Adebayo, had earlier informed the court that the counsel to Olubadan, Mr Michael Lana and Oyo State Government’s counsel, Mr Adegboyega Salawu were trying to delay the matter.

    He said that the respondents’ counsel were present in court on the last adjourned date of Dec. 15, 2017, where Jan.10 was agreed for the closing of the Pre-Trial Conference ( PTC ).

    The claimants are claiming that it was the turn of Seriki chieftaincy line to produce the next Olubadan after the death of Oba Samuel Lana, against the appointment of Adetunji by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

    The claimants are also challenging the consistent occupation of the Olubadan throne by the Olubadan chieftaincy line and Balogun chieftaincy lines while excluding the Seriki line.

    It would be recalled that the claimant’s counsel, Adebayo, had told the court that there was a subsisting court ruling restraining the occupation of any vacant position of high chiefs and that of Olubadan.

    Other respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Oyo State Government.

  • Retract your threats on Olubadan in seven days or face public ridicule – Mogajis warn new obas

    Ibadan Authentic Mogajis (family heads) have told the newly crowned 21 obas to withdraw their 21-day dethronement threat against the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji in seven days or face public ridicule for disloyalty against the Olubadan.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the new obas had issued a 21-day ultimatum to Oba Adetunji to abide by the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration law review or face dethronement.

    The mogajis advised the new obas to immediately withdraw their ultimatum or face the wrath of Ibadan sons and daughters.

    According to them, the new obas risk losing their crowns should they recommend the Olubadan for removal because of what they called “phantom charges” against His Imperial Majesty.

    The mogajis, after their meeting at the Oja’ba palace, which was reportedly attended by Alhaji Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko), Chief Abduljelyl Karheem (Mogaji Adanla), Alhaji Moshud Gbolagade (Mogaji Akere), Alhaji Waheed Kosoko (Mogaji Onilabu), Alhaji Ademola Oladosu (Mogaji Olasomi) and Chief Wale Oladoja (Mogaji Akinsola), said they would not allow the city to disintegrate.

    A statement on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by their spokesman Wale Oladoja, said: “We can’t continue to fold our arms and watch while some people rain abuses and insults on our revered kabiyesi. It is a big slap on the real Ibadan sons and daughters and we have decided to appeal to the eight high chiefs to withdraw their statement within the next seven days or face the consequences of their disloyalty to the Olubadan, who, by law and tradition of the city, remains the paramount ruler of the land.

    “These eight high chiefs are members of the Olubadan-in-Council and they should stop parading themselves as constitutional obas in Ibadan; failure to do so may lead to anarchy. We know quite alright that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not tolerate anything that will jeopardise the security of any part of the country and the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, should caution all these-so-called vassal obas. They should allow court to decide the cases on merit and stop cutting corners.

    “We, the authentic mogajis, begin to wonder if these people are already feeling guilty before the court pronouncements. Why should anybody not allow the status quo to remain pending the judgment of several cases on the matter?

    “We hold dear the Nigerian Judiciary as bastion and hope of all. Therefore, they should allow the Judiciary to do its job. Otherwise, we will go after them and subject them to public ridicule too.

    “They are our fathers and they should know that an injury to one is an injury to all. They risk losing their crowns should they go ahead to recommend the Olubadan for removal over phantom charges.”

  • You are entertainers, not recognised under the law – Olubadan tells High Chiefs

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji has described the purported 21-day notice of dethronement issued by some High Chiefs in Ibadan as an unfortunate thing that has never happened in the history of the ancient city.

    Oba Adetunji while describing the notice as an embarrassment to the Olubadan stool and the people of Ibadan referred to the 21 kings as entertainers of the year.

    Some members of Olubadan-in-Council threatened Olubadan with dethronement threat and 21-day ultimatum.

    But, Oba Adetunji in a reply to the warning, however, stated that “the so-called Oba-in-Council was unknown to the Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws, and wondered how a group of educated individuals such as the embattled high chiefs could resort to illegality by commenting on a matter before the court”.

    The monarch in the statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, by Adeola Oloko, his Director of Media and Public Affairs, contended that the council which comprised High Chiefs and Olubadan only was basically an advisory council with no force of law, customs and traditions backing it.

    Oba Adetunji said as the prescribed and appointing authority, he can promote and/or peg the promotion of a high chief as long as he wished.

    But he added that he did not contemplate any such decision as he does not see himself as an absolute monarch.

    Oba Adetunji contended further that there was no time that the embattled High Chiefs were barred from attending palace activities, adding that they were the ones who spurned palace invitation in their desperate rush for multiple crowns and cheap royalties.

  • Vote of no confidence threat: ‘You are entertainers of the year,’ Olubadan tells Council of Obas

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji on Tuesday reacted to the threat issued by the Councill of Oba in Ibadan to pass a vote of no confidence on him if he doesn’t act in accordance to the dictates of the chieftaincy review recently accented to by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    The Olubadan said the threat was as an affront to the people of Ibadan land.

    The traditional ruler also referred to the 21 kings as entertainers of the year even as he declared that they (21 new kings) lacked the powers to unseat the Olubadan.

    In a press release issued, signed and made available to TheNewsGuru.com on Tuesday by the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the Olubadan , Mr Adeola Oloko , Oba Adetunji stated that ‘the so-called Oba-in-Council ‘ was unknown to the Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws, and wondered how a group of educated individuals such as the embattled high chiefs could resort to illegality by commenting on a matter before the court.

    Hearing continues Wednesday 13 December at the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan in a suit filed by the Olubadan against the Oyo State Government on the controversial chieftaincy review.

    Oba Adetunji who has pleaded with the court to take judicious notice of the persistent contempt of court on the matter before it by the defendants in recent times is of the opinion that if a scapegoat is not made of at least one or two culprits, there may be no end to court contempt.

    On the issue raised by the Oba-in-Council; Olubadan contended that the council in question which comprises high chiefs and Olubadan only is basically an advisory council with no force of law, customs and traditions backing it.

    ” In the same vein, Baale whom the embattled high chiefs have added to themselves to become 21 are not members of Olubadan-in-Council and therefore should not be dressed in borrowed robe, as they have no power whatsoever over their lord, ” the frontline Oba said.

    According to Oba Adetunji, as the prescribed and appointing authority, he can promote and/or peg the promotion of an high chief as long as he wishes.

    But he added that he did not contemplate any such decision as he does not see himself as an absolute monarch.

    Oba Adetunji contended further that there was no time that the embattled high chiefs were barred from attending palace activities, adding that they were the ones who spurned palace invitation in their desperate rush for multiple crowns and cheap royalties.

    He expressed delight that despite their absence from official palace activities, the Olubadan had been exercising his duties without let or hindrance.

    The Olubadan stated that even when they were being harassed and molested in the city streets and called unprintable names, he has been trying his level best to calm down frayed nerves in order to guarantee their safety and security by going to court to diffuse tension.

    Oba Adetunji stated that as the Yoruba proverb says that okro can never outgrow its reaper, an high chief can’t outgrow the king by threatening to recommend him for removal.

    “By custom and tradition, no Olubadan has been recommended for removal from office by any high chief or group of high chiefs at any time and my own reign will not be an exception. At least, we have received applications from families of about four of the embattled high chiefs asking for their immediate replacement. But, like a prodigal son, we hope that they would sooner than later renounce the unrecognized crowns and return to the warm embrace of their father as the palace door is perpetually open. The high chiefs are hereby advised to emulate high chiefs in other places, who are not wearing crowns but still earn respect of their people for peace and progress to reign supreme in the land, ” he said.

    He, however, urged the high chiefs not to exercise fears yet, as their seats would not be declared vacant in the absence of court verdict.

  • Chieftaincy Review: Ibadan Council of Obas threaten Olubadan with vote of no confidence

    Members of the Ibadan Council of Obas yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to reconcile his activities with the provisions of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Review or face vote of no confidence from them.

    They addressed reporters at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The most senior monarch to the Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who spoke for the others accused Oba Adetunji of flouting the provisions of the chieftaincy law by taking unilateral decisions and allegedly promoting civil disorder.

    They said the Olubadan’s wives were embarrassing the palace through their excesses and alleged misleading the monarch on many issues.

    The council members also accused the Olubadan of inciting people against Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who undertook the review, which made him an Imperial Majesty.

    They recalled that the August 2017 review of the Chieftaincy Declaration by the state government was a response to several petitions and agitation for reform by members of the defunct Olubadan-In-Council.

    According to them, Ibadan indigenes should rather be grateful to Ajimobi for accenting to their request.

    The monarchs said they wrote to Oba Adetunji in July, 2016, to lodge complaints about him, copies of which were sent to the governor and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    They added that members of the Ibadan Elders Forum waded in and resolved the crisis at the time.

    Oba Adetunji was enthroned in February, 2016.

    Emphasising their grouses against the Olubadan, the obas said: “Meetings of the Olubadan-In-Council were not conducted properly as they had been done. Oloris (queens) were still attending meetings with us and contributing, dictating and attacking high chiefs in curses and abuses.

    “Appointment of baales and mogajis are not in compliance with the proper set-up rules and standards. Apart from monetary scandal of which Kabiyesi is yet to refrain, a new Olubadan-In-Council is inside Popoyemoja palace, consisting of the Olubadan, the oloris and the Personal Assistant to the Kabiyesi (Tairu), who decide from time to time who is to be baale or mogaji and will only send hearing notice of meeting and agenda to the real members of the Olubadan-In-Council on the Saturday preceding the installation date on Monday. This leaves no time for protest, and any attempt to protest on Monday is fruitless, as Kabiyesi believed that he is not challengeable.”

    The monarchs also accused Oba Adetunji of acting alone in traditional functions.

    They said he sent clerks and personal assistants with the staff of authority or attended occasions singularly the or with his wives.

    The council said many litigations were ongoing over the installations of mogajis and baales because they were unilaterally and wrongly done.

    Some examples they cited are: the Baale Ajogbobi, Mogaji Kosoko/Onilabu, Baale Badeku and Mogaji Oyelakun.

    Highlighting the merits of the recent review, the monarchs noted that the Olubadan, who was until then His Royal Majesty, could only install baales and mogajis.

    The obas said the review elevated him to His Imperial Majesty, giving the Olubadan the right to enthrone other obas.

    They recalled that the first major review of the declaration was undertaken in 1976 when the late Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe was elevated to His Royal Majesty, becoming the first Ibadan oba to wear beaded crown.

    The monarchs said this year’s review would not be the last as Ibadan indigenes sought better ways to bring development to Ibadan.

    They also accused the Olubadan of wanting to be the only monarch in Ibadan metropolis, a city they reiterated is the largest in West Africa.

    The obas said as members of the council, which nominated the Olubadan, they could pass a vote of no confidence on him, thereby preparing the ground for deposition, if the monarch remained recalcitrant.

    They said: “We are, by this conference, giving His Imperial Majesty a 21-day ultimatum to change his stand and work for the improvement of Ibadan, rather than promoting disorderliness. Failure to do so, the entire Ibadan Council of Obas will pass a vote of no confidence in the Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and declare him persona non-grata, and the government will have no other choice than to move for appropriate action.

    “You need to know that we the then Olubadan-In-Council nominated and appointed him and presented the said Kabiyesi Adetunji to the government of Oyo State for inauguration and approval or confirmation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, knowing well that under the law, anybody from the position of Ekerin is qualified for the position of the Olubadan.

    “The obaship of the Olubadan did not start from Oba Saliu and it will not end in his palace…”

    At the briefing were Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Oba Amidu Ajibade and Oba Kola Adegbola.

    When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Olubadan, Mr Adeola Oloko, said the palace would react at the appropriate time.

     

  • Chieftaincy review: Ajimobi meets Buhari in Aso Rock, reports Olubadan, Ladoja

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday met President Muhammadu Buhari in his office in Aso Rock to report the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and former governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    Ajimobi told State House correspondents that he called the President’s attention to the face-off between him and the monarch over the recently reviewed Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    He said he also called the President’s attention to the fact that the crisis created by the review had been politicised, having been hijacked by a politician who is interested in his office.

    The governor said he, however, assured Buhari that although the Olubadan deserved to be deposed based on his actions, he would not remove him because of the father-son relationship between them.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the feud between the governor and the Olubadan had thickened following the governor’s elevation and coronation of some chiefs as kings in Ibadanland.

    However, the governor had reiterated at the coronation ceremony that the newly coronated kings are all under the Olubadan.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Olubadan had also challenged the coronation describing it as illegal.

     

    Details later…

  • Why we shunned Ajimobi’s Independence celebration programme – Olubadan, NLC

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the leadership of Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have why they did not attend the Oyo State Independence celebration programme held at the state in commemoration of the nation’s 57th Independence anniversary.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the event, which held at the Main Bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex at Adamasingba in Ibadan, the state capital, was attended by members of the State Executive Council (Exco), heads of ministerial and extra-ministerial boards, agencies and corporations.

    Others in attendance are security chiefs, including, police commissioner, the General Officer Commanding the 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, High Court judges and members of the House of Assembly.

    Traditional rulers at the event included the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Balogun of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin and the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Olubadan’s reserved seat was unoccupied throughout the period of the programme.

    In a similar the NLC members were equally absent at the ceremonial march past.

    The Olubadan said he would not have attended an event to which he was not invited.

    The monarch’s media aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said though he was not at the palace yesterday, but he was not aware of any invitation as at 11 a.m on Saturday he left the place.

    Oloko said if the palace did not get the government’s invitation to attend a programme that would hold less than 24 hours later, why would anyone expect the monarch to honour it?

    But when told that a source had hinted that the monarch’s invitation was delivered at 11 a.m on Saturday, the aide said he was not aware of such invitation at the same time he left the palace.

    He said: “I have not been to the palace today (Sunday) but I can tell you that at 11 a.m when I left the palace yesterday (Saturday), no invitation had been delivered to the palace from the state government.

    “But when I get to the palace, I will find out if any invitation was delivered to the palace. But come to think of it, if no invitation had been delivered to the monarch as at 11 a.m (on Saturday), which was barely 24 hours to an event, then what are we talking about?”

    NLC State Chairman Waheed Olojede said labour unions would not have attended the programme since the government did not invite the workers.

    The union leader, who said he confirmed if the situation is the same with the sister arm, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), added that both groups found it unbelievable that the government could organise such an event without inviting the workers.

    According to him, the workers had no bad blood with the state government but had supported the administration all along, despite being owed months of salaries and emoluments.

    He said the unions could have used the event to discuss with the government the workers’ outstanding salaries and emoluments since they had been supporting the government without complaints on the matter.

    Olojede urged the government to have a rethink of how they treat the workers noting that the workers must be seen as the engine room of any system and backbone of any success they want to achieve.

    The union leader warned that using labour as mere tools by those in government would no longer be tolerated by the leadership of the workers.

    He said: “Labour sees no reason to attend the Independence Day anniversary since the government also saw no reason to invite us.

    “We have been supporting the government, despite having salaries and emoluments outstanding with the government.

    “I spoke with my counterpart in TUC and I discovered the situation was the same. The workers would have used the opportunity to intimate the government of our welfare and outstanding salaries but the government decided to shut us out.

    “There is no bad blood between the workers and the government. As such, we are surprised that no invitation was extended to the workers.

    “However, on behalf of the leadership of the workers’ union, I congratulate the workers on the occasional of the Independence Day anniversary.

    “We also call on government structures to begin to have a rethink of how they treat workers. We must be seen as engine room of every system and the backbone of any success they might want to achieve.

     

  • Ajimobi summons security chiefs over attacks on Olubadan’s palace

    Governor Ajibola Ajimobi of Oyo State has summoned security chiefs in the state over attacks on the on the Popoyemoja Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the attack by some unknown gunmen was unleashed at the Olubadan’s palace on Monday during the coronation ceremony of some mogajis and bales.

    The meeting which had in attendance, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan; Commissioner of Police at the state command; Director of Department of State Services; State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and heads of other security agencies in the state.

    However, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, earlier in the day vowed that the five gunmen who shot sporadically at the palace of the Olubadan, during the installation of Baales (village heads) will soon be fished out and taken to court for proper justice.

    The Police boss who is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo States also assured that security will be beefed up around the palace.

    Oshodi-Glover spoke Tuesday while playing a courtesy visit on the Olubadan in company of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude and other top police officers in the Zone in respect of the shooting incident.

    Acknowledging that the security operatives never got a hint on the planned attacked pointing out that, having the information would have helped the security operatives to keep the attackers off. He added that, with the incident, the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and leave no stone unturned.

    He said: “Definitely, security will be beefed up around the palace and more importantly, those miscreants who did that will be fished out and will be taken to court for proper justice to take its cause.

    “I don’t know any news behind the news on this matter. But we are going to investigate what happened. If we knew the news behind the news, the gunmen would not even get close to the palace. Now that we have known, we would do everything possible and no stone would be left unturned.

    While assuring the people of the state that the police is high on alert to ensure the safety of lives and property, the police boss appealed to the people who have information on the identity of the unidentified gunmen to make same available to the police so as to fast track getting to the root of the matter.

    “The policemen are on high alert and citizens should be rest assured that they are safe. We are also calling on the citizens, who saw what happened and who have information to let the police have them towards helping us in getting into the root of all these.

    “The steps the police are taking will make all and sundry to be happy. The Yoruba tradition must be respected and respect must be accorded to the people and institutions that deserve it. The hoodlums are hereby warned to desist from unruly behaviour. Those that perpetrated the invasion, we are going to make sure that we get them”, Oshodi-Glover assured.

    Addressing the visitor, the monarch who expresses happiness at the visit and the decision of the police boss to do on the spot assessment of the situation.

    Oba Adetunji, who described the Monday incident as shocking maintained that his decision to install the minor chiefs was within the ambit of the chieftaincy laws pointing out that the arm of government that is saddled with the responsibility to challenge the authority of Olubadan in respect of installation is the court, and not anybody or any threat from anyone whosoever.

    While assuring that the Palace will make available anything or information needed by the police during its investigation, the monarch maintained that the central figure in the Olubadan chieftaincy position is the Olubadan himself as the Olubadan-in-Council is just an advisory body and not a legal entity.

    Olubadan said, “I am very happy to welcome you. What the police should do is what you have done. When you heard of a security issue in the palace, the first thing is to come as you have done to see things for yourself.

    “As a monarch of no mean repute, we are irrevocably committed to the protection of lives and property at all times, and we are irrevocably committed to a collaborative effort with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure peace and harmony.

    “What happened on Monday was very shocking, to say the least, because by choosing to confer minor chieftaincies like Mogaji and Baale on deserving individuals, is within the ambit of the chieftaincy laws. The central figure in that chieftaincy position is the Olubadan. Olubadan-in-Council is just an advisory body, it is not a legal entity.

    “Therefore, whether the Olubadan does it or not, it is not questionable. The arm of government that is saddled with the responsibility to challenge the authority of Olubadan in respect of installation is the court, and not anybody or any threat from anyone. Anything you need concerning your investigation will be done for you.

    “What I want people to know is that whatever anybody does, he does it for himself. Whoever refuses to do the right thing is doing it for himself. Whatever position that we are today, so many people had been there in the past, at a time we have not occupied the position and we did not even know we would get there.

    “But today, we are occupying the positions, who knows who will be there tomorrow? The fact that we don’t know who will be there tomorrow should send a note of caution to us that we must be wary of whatever we do with the positions. What will people remember you for when you are no longer on the position? I am using this medium to urge all and sundry to endeavour to do the right thing.”

    Addressing the press after the State Exco Security Council meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa condemned the attack on the palace of the foremost monarch, describing it as barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable, noting that the suspected hoodlums must have acted on the instructions of some failed politicians who are trying to exploit the traditional institution to stage a comeback and return Oyo State to the inglorious days of violence, brigandage, killings and arson.

    The briefing also had in attendance, the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the Governors Special Adviser on communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, the Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Print Media, Mr. Wale Sadeeq and a Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Broadcast and Print Media, Mr. Akin Oyedele.

    Assuring that, the government shall not allow anyone or group, irrespective of status, religious or political leaning, to take the state back to the days of when Ibadan earned the uneviable tag of a garrison command through the unscrupulous activities of incorrigible elements, Abolarinwa recalled that the government had warned during the installation ceremony of the 21 obas on August 27 that the Olubadan’s palace and the revered traditional institution risk being used as staging post for the nefarious activities of failed politicians.

    He said: “The attack on the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by gunmen on Monday is barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable. The suspected hoodlums must have acted on the instructions of some failed politicians who are trying to exploit the traditional institution to stage a comeback and return Oyo State to the inglorious days of violence, brigandage, killings and arson.

    “We shall not allow anyone or group, irrespective of status, religious or political leaning, to take to the days of when Ibadan earned the unenviable tag of a garrison command through the unscrupulous activities of incorrigible elements. I had warned during the installation ceremony of our obas on August 27 that the Olubadan palace and our revered traditional institution risk being used as a staging post for the nefarious activities of failed politicians.

    “Meanwhile, we suspect that some opposition political parties and retrogressive individuals must have now found sanctuary in the hallowed palace of the Olubadan to resurrect their faded careers. Their plan is to disrupt the peace and tranquillity that we have worked hard to enthrone and enjoyed in the last six years.

    “Initial security reports suggest that their plan is to unleash terror and make Ibadan ungovernable, especially as the 2019 general elections draw near. For the avoidance of doubt, the government wishes to reiterate that it will not renege on its commitment to the security of lives and property which has remained our credential in the last six years.

    “We, therefore warn that anyone seeking to tear our resolve through any attempt at jeopardizing the peace of the land should be ready to face the Waterloo because I can assure them that the full weight of the law will be visited on them. My appeal to our Baba, the Kabiyesi, is to be wary of the antics of those who may wish to exploit his warmness and accommodating posturing to foment trouble. A word is enough for the wise.”

     

     

  • Gunmen invade Olubadan’s palace, disrupt installation of baales, mogajis

    Unknown gunmen on Monday morning invaded the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji in Popo-Yemoja, Ibadan, Oyo state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the monarch was performing the coronation ceremony of some traditional chiefs (Baales and Mogajis) at the palace when the gunmen struck shooting sporadically into the air.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a former secretary to the state government who also doubles as the reigning Asaaju Balogun of Ibadan land, Mr. Sharafadeen Alli and reporters from The Punch, ThisDay and Daily Trust were among the people who escaped death by the whiskers at the palace when the gunmen stroke.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Olubadan chieftaincy review had been a subject of protracted crises in recent time, particularly between the Olubadan and the Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    Last week, the Olubadan sued the governor over what the monarch called the illegality of the chieftaincy review of Ibadan land.

    Details later…