HOW DEATH OF OLUBADAN'S WIFE RESTORED CALM IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF IBADAN


For close to six months, after the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, elevated eight High Chiefs to the position of kings in Ibadan land, the Ibadan traditional council has been battling with crisis. Though the governor explained that he installed the new kings to bring more credibility to the traditional institution in the state, many indigenes of Ibadan had argued that the process through which the new kings emerged was wrong. 

Proper consultation could have been made by the government, argued some indigenes.
The new kings recently issued a 21-day ultimatum to Olubadan to have a rethink but however, the crisis took another dimension before the leaders and elders in Ibadan intervened to ensure that the crisis ends.

Although the Olubadan and Governor Ajimobi had met severally after the installation of the new kings, there has not been any amicable resolution until the eldest wife of the monarch died in December 2017.

Following the death of Chief Mrs Kudirat Aduke Adetunji, Governor Ajimobi paid the Olubadan a condolence visit. After that, the newly elevated kings also paid condolence visits to the monarch. As a result of their moves, the apex socio-cultural organization in Ibadan, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, intervened in the crisis and said it was confident that the lingering chieftaincy dispute triggered by the installation of 21 new obas by the Oyo State government will soon be settled out of court.

The president of the CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye, shortly after leading a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to a meeting with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, was upbeat that an amicable resolution was in the offing. He said, “We are happy that all the stakeholders in the matter have seen the need to embrace peace. Judging by the progress we have made so far in the TRC, I can assure you that the matter will soon be settled out of court judging by the cooperation and enthusiasm of the parties.”

“We have extracted a firm promise from those concerned on the need to withdraw all the court cases in the overall interest of Ibadan land. We are doing everything possible not to jeopardize the reconciliation process, hence all the stakeholders have been included in the TRC.”

To confirm the cooperation of both sides, the spokesperson of the heads of families in Ibadan, known as Mogaji, Chief Wale Oladoja, confirmed that reconciliatory move are on. He said a meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) convened by a prominent Ibadan elder, Dr. Lekan Are, had set the ball rolling in a way “that the pride and dignity surrounding the Obaship crisis in Ibadan land will be amicably resolved within the shortest time possible.”

Oladoja said the Reconciliation Committee has Chief Are as chairman while the President General of the CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye, would serve as the Coordinator. The Authentic Mogajis like Alhaji Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko), Chief Abduljelyl Karheem (Mogaji Adanla), Alhaji Moshud Gbolagade (Mogaji Akere), Alhaji Ademola Oladosu (Mogaji Olasomi) are members of the reconciliation committee.

Also listed are a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, General Raji Rasaki (Rtd); a former Commissioner for Information and CCII chieftain, Chief Adegboyega Arulogun; Primate Ola Makinde; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland; Alhaji Dauda Makanjuola; Prof. Adeola Adeyemi; Chief Lere Adigun; Dr. Kunle Oyedele and other eminent elders in Ibadan. The maiden meeting, according to Oladoja, was held last Thursday and had all the aforementioned in attendance.

If the issue is finally put to rest, will the newly elevated maintain their crown as kings or go back as High Chiefs? These are some of the questions begging for answers.

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