Indications have emerged that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, and the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, may have fallen apart over promotion of chiefs in the Olubadan lines.
The recent deaths of Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Suleiman Omiyale, and Otun Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye, had opened a floodgate of promotion in the Olubadan-in-Council. This made the monarch promote nine high chiefs in the council in Ibadan.
The promotion came less than 24 hours after the state government through the Ministry of Loacal Government and Chieftaincy Matters, directed Ibadan South East Local Government Area and the affected chiefs to comply with the Chiefs Law of the state, adding that they should “submit a medical report certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws.”
The two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland are the ‘Egbe Agba’ (civil) and ‘Balogun’ (military) from where Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch.
The newly promoted chiefs are High Chief Saliu Adetunji, who was elevated from Otun Balogun to Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief (Senator) Lekan Balogun was promoted from Osi Olubadan to Otun Olubadan. The duo are the most senior on the two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan.
The former Osi Balogun, Chief Akinloye Olakuleyin, is now the new Otun Balogun; High Chief (Senator) Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of the state was also promoted from Ashipa Olubadan to Osi Olubadan; and Dr. Olufemi Olaifa has moved a step up from Ashipa Balogun to Osi Balogun.
Beneficiaries of the promotion also comprise High Chiefs Eddy Oduoye Oyewole, who got promotion from Ekerin Olubadan to Ashipa Olubadan; Tajudeen Abimbola from Ekerin Balogun to Ashipa Balogun; Kola Daisi from Ekarun Olubadan to Ekerin and former Ekarun Balogun, Solomom Adabale, who is now the new Ekarun Balogun.
The new Osi Olubadan, Ladoja, in his reaction to the government directive, said: “I don’t act on rumour. Nevertheless, such directive was never part of the Ibadan system. I think we should just allow the sleeping dog to lie. It is the Olubadan that decides who he wants to install as Chief. It is the prerogative of the Olubadan.”
The new Otun Olubadan, Balogun also said: “I have been a chief since 1989. For anybody to now say that my medical certificate is needed is strange. As far as I know, they said they want to reform Ibadan chieftaincy. Ibadan chieftaincy is self-reforming.”
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