Adeola Oloko is the Director, Media and Publicity to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji. He speaks with TUNDE OGUNESAN on some of the issues between the monarch and the Olubadan-in-council. Excerpts:
ONE of the High Chiefs of Ibadanland, who was made an oba by the Oyo State government, in a move which the Olubadan kicked against, has opened up on the reason they no longer come to the palace, noting that the Kabiyesi’s family took over the roles of the council and that his wives were attending Olubadan-in-Council meeting, to the extent of insulting some High Chiefs in the palace. How true is this claim?
No olori can attend the Olubadan-in-Council meeting, whether then or now. I am amazed when I hear those insinuations that Oloris or some children of Kabiyesi attend Olubadan-in-Council meeting. Whoever is insinuating that, maybe he has never visited the palace or he does not know the degree of personalities that make up the council. Is it the same council where the Otun Olubadan, Iyalode, Balogun, Osi, Ashipa and others attend? Who is that person that has the gut to go in there? Nobody.
However, if after the meeting the door is opened, because all the members of the council are our fathers; we can then go in and pay homage to them. And that includes some of us that are working in the palace. I repeat, no olori or any of Olubadan’s children has the gut to attend the Olubadan-in-council meeting. Which of them and at what point? The membership of Olubadan-in Council is clearly spelt out and is strictly adhered to.
How did the palace receive the 21 days ultimatum issued to the Olubadan by the 21 obas?
There are no 21 Obas that can give Olubadan any ultimatum. How many High Chiefs make up the Olubadan-in-Council? How did they arrive at 21 Obas-in-council? The High Chiefs in the council are 11. So, how did they come up with 21 obas issuing ultimatum? Meanwhile, the ultimatum is not backed by the Ibadan chieftaincy law or Oyo State chieftaincy law. Olubadan is the appointing authority, and if you study the declaration and Oyo State law, issuing ultimatum for the removal of the Olubadan is not contained there. It is the Olubadan that can sanction and not the other way round.
But the Olubadan-in-Council/Oba-in-Council, which is an advisory body to the Olubadan, accused him of some wrongdoings and called on him to make redress…
People should be able to differentiate between High Chiefs and Baales. I repeat, there are just 11 High chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council. The Baales who were appointed by the Olubadan cannot honestly take a decision on the Olubadan. That is an insult to the Olubadan. The issue is becoming confusing day in, day out. You don’t lump things, two things that are not the same together. Baales rule over communities and apply to the Olubadan for whatever needs to be done. So what now gives them that prerogative to join some High Chiefs who are now issuing ultimatum, which is not even valid?
So, are you saying the ultimatum is not valid?
Well, to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think the source of the ultimatum has locus standi by the provision of the law that established it. The Olubadan-in-Council is made up of respected and recognised High Chiefs, backed by the appropriate laws as recognised by the Ibadan Chieftaincy law and Oyo State chieftaincy law, accordingly. Then, another thing to consider is if that body is still operating within the context of the law, that is when you can give consideration to whatever has come out of the body. For the records, the membership of the Olubadan-in-Council is clearly stated by the law.
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