THE eight High Chiefs promoted to Royal Majesties by the former governor of Oyo State, the Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, have written their counsel, Adekunle Sobaloju to withdraw the suit challenging the consent judgment which nullified the promotion of Ibadan High Chiefs as Obas by the Oyo State government.
In the letter dated January 30, 2022, the eight concerned High Chiefs wrote that “future reforms or reviews to the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 should be kept in view for now.”
In the letter of withdrawal under reference, the High Chiefs said “the withdrawal became important in order not to truncate the peace enjoyed in Ibadan.”
The High Chiefs, who signed the letter were Balogun of Ibadanland, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe and Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola. Others who signed the letter, saying that the reform or review of the 1957 Declaration would be addressed during the tenure of the new Olubadan were the Otun Olubadan and Olubadan-designate, Lekan Balogun; Ashipa Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Ekerin Olubadan, Biodun KolaDaisi and Ekarun Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade.
The request to their counsel may pave the way for the conclusion of processes leading to the installation of the next Olubadan as the suit challenging the consent judgment had been a knotty issue overtime.
As part of the move to resolve the quagmire, the High Chiefs had earlier agreed to drop their title as Royal Majesties.
It would be recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had, during a condolence visit to the Popoyemoja palace of the late Olubadan, proclaimed that Ibadan traditional institution must revert to its original concept.
This position, it was gathered, Makinde re-echoed when he met with members of the Olubadan-in-Council at Oyo Government House, Ibadan.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the kingmakers may come up on Thursday.
According to source, the meeting is expected to re-nominate the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who is next in line to the stool, for possible endorsement by the Oyo State governor.
The recommendation and endorsement, the source said further became imperative in view of the withdrawal of the suit by the then “Ibadan Obas”