Amid reservations by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Osi Balogun of Ibadan land, Senator Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Senator Lekan Balogun; six other members of the Olubadan in council and 21 Baales, were on Friday, conferred with obaship status by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
At the ceremony held on Friday evening at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, Ajimobi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, said the members of Olubadan-in-Council would henceforth be addressed as ‘His Royal Majesty’ while the Baales promoted to kings would be addressed as ‘His Royal Highness.’
While presenting the conferment letters, Ajimobi warned that it had become an offence for anyone to address the new kings with their former titles, such as ‘High Chief’ for members of Olubadan-in-Council while the Olubadan was henceforth to be addressed as ‘His Imperial Majesty’.
As contained in their conferment letters, members of Olubadan-in-Council are now Oba (Senator) Olalekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Eddy Oyewole, Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Others are Oba (Dr) Kolawole Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun; Oba Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland; and Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Two other positions in the Olubadan-in-Council remained vacant owing to the death of the Otun Balogun, Dr. Olufemi Olaifa and Ekerin Balogun, Falowo Fadare. He however assured that same honour would be accorded those who fill the vacant positions once promotions are done.
Sunday, August 27, 2017 was fixed for official coronation and installation of all the new kings.
This development is coming in spite of opposition against the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland by the Olubadan and Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
The Justice Akintunde Boade review panel had recommended the Ibadan should have 32 crown wearing obas besides the Olubadan.
The conferment letters signed by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan, read, “The governor in exercise of his powers as conferred on him by Section 28 (i) Cap. Vol. 1 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, and in line with the provisions of the recently amended 1959 Declaration of Olubadan and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland, and the Government White Paper as conveyed in Government Gazette No. 14, Notice 27 Vol 42 of 24th August 2017 and Gazette No. 15 Notice 28 Vol 42 of 24 August 2017, respectively, the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has graciously approved the conferment of obaship on you with effect from Friday 25 August 2017.”
For the members of Olubadan-in-Council, the letter read, “By this conferment, you shall henceforth wear a Royal Beaded Crown in line with the provisions of the amendment. Consequently, you will be addressed henceforth as His Royal Majesty.”
For the Baales, the letter read: “By this conferment, you shall henceforth wear a Royal Beaded Crown in line with the provisions of the amendment. Consequently, you will be addressed henceforth as His Royal Highness.”
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bimbo Kolade, said the reform would not in any way diminish the status of Olubadan as all the new kings would wear smaller crowns and they would be subject to him.
Some of the Baales that have become kings include the Onijaiye of Ijaiye, Oniroko of Iroko, Onido of Iddo, Onikereku of Ikereku, Alajia of Ajia, Alakanran of Akanran, Akakufo of Akufo, Olofa-Igbo of Ofa-Igbo.
Responding on behalf of the promoted Obas, HRM Oba Lekan Balogun thanked the Ajimobi for his implementing the review which he noted was long overdue.
He promised that the new monarchs will work with the state government to bring about rapid development Ibadanland and the state as a whole.
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