Olubadan succession reform: We will resist move if… —Ibadan chiefs

THE decision of the Oyo State government to review the processes and protocols for ascension to the Olubadan throne has pitched Governor Abiola Ajimobi, against some stakeholders and members of the Olubadan-in-Council.

While the Council has adopted what it called a “wait-and-see approach” to the policy, others like a former governor and Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, have described the policy as a misplacement of priority.

Others like the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin, threatened to protest if what the commission was asked to do did not favour the council.

Governor Ajimobi, on Friday, inaugurated a seven-member judicial commission headed by Justice Akintunde Boade (retd) and saddled it with reforming the Olubadan succession protocols and submitting its report in four weeks.

Reacting to the move, the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, said development was not new to the Olubadan-in-Council, claiming that the governor had never hidden his disdain for the current process of selecting Olubadan.

He said the council was adopting a “wait and see approach” since details of the reforms were yet to come to light, adding that the information in the public domain so far was a sketch of the opinion of the governor who had always championed a course for the transformation of the entire process.

Review, misplacement of priority —Ladoja

Also reacting, Ladoja said the decision was a misplacement of priority, especially coming at a time Governor Ajimobi had so many unaddressed issues to attend to.

Ladoja spoke in Ibadan, on Saturday, at the graduation ceremony and distribution of working tools to 76 young artisans trained by Honourable Fatai Adesina, Accord lawmaker representing Ibadan South East I.

The former governor said the people of Ibadan had a long-established rancour-free tradition of succession to the throne, adding that the succession order had become the envy of many cities and states.

He, therefore, wondered why Governor Ajimobi, left unaddressed, issues such as the perennial crisis in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

“LAUTECH was ranked the best state university and fifth overall during my governorship. SUBEB was also number one in the whole country during our time. But today, Oyo State ranked 24 out of 36 states in WAEC.

“It is strange that the state government that should be thinking of how to clear the backlog of salaries is busying itself with things like this. In Oyo State, we are no longer the pace-setters in education.

“The government has bitten more than it can chew and it has become overwhelmed. That is why it is looking for distraction everywhere. What concerns the government with the processes and procedure for the emergence of Olubadan?

“The crisis this decision will create will linger forever if allowed to pass. The people of the state should think very well about the crisis being created by the current government through this policy,” the former Oyo governor said.

We await details —CCII, Lanlehin

The President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Wole Akinwande, said he was yet to see the terms of reference, adding that the organisation could only comment when availed details of the proposal.

The Bamofin of Ibadanland, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, also told Sunday Tribune that detailed reaction would be made on the development as soon as full details were made available by the judicial commission.

We will protest if —Balogun

The Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Olakuleyin, said the governor “has consistently been drumming it into our hearing. We don’t know what he is set to achieve with that.

“We can’t stop the committee from doing its job. We’ll keep an eagle eye as events unfold. If we consider it not to be good for us, we’ll have to protest. And if it is good, all the same.

“We know they’re just starting. Let us see what they have in store for us, then we’ll react accordingly,” Olakuleyin said.

Law reviewed 60 years ago —Govt

The Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to Governor Ajimobi, Yomi Layinka, said the governor’s action was clearly captured in his remarks during the inauguration of the commission.

“Basically, there is a need to review the law about the chieftaincy system. The last time it was reviewed was around 60 years ago. There is need to review it to take into consideration the modern reality.

“Within the last 60 years, there have been series of dynamics. The population was not the same again. Now, there is one beaded crown. They [the commission] are also to look into the possibility of having more. But the panel will be in a better position to advise the government accordingly,” he stated.

On the suspicion that the reform was aimed at some members of the Olubadan-in-council, Layinka said “there was no intention to look at any particular person, institution, but a view to look into issue of modernisation.

“This is in line with the transformation and re-positioning agenda of the current administration. This would not only be limited to Ibadan but other communities with a view to pulling ourselves into modern time,” he added.