Home News Complaints Over Conferment Of Chieftaincy Titles: Olubadan To Lekan Balogun, Others: Wait...

Complaints Over Conferment Of Chieftaincy Titles: Olubadan To Lekan Balogun, Others: Wait For Your Turn

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...from the left: Senator (Chief) Lekan Balogun, Gov Ajimobi, the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Chief Owolabi Olakulehin...will Ajimobi be able to precipitating storm in Ibadanland?
...from the left: Senator (Chief) Lekan Balogun, Gov Ajimobi, the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Chief Owolabi Olakulehin...will Ajimobi be able to precipitating storm in Ibadanland?

Two high chiefs in Ibadanland, Chiefs Lekan Balogun and Owolabi Olakulehin and others complaining about the way the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji has been dishing out chieftaincy titles have been told by the monarch to ‘wait for your turns’.

In a strongly worded release from the Popo Yemoja palace of Ibadan’s paramount ruler, the monarch through his spokesman, Adeola Oloko debunked the claim that he did not carry members of the Olubadan-in-Council along in the appointment and installation of new chiefs, saying Olubadan cannot do anything without consultation with the council.

However, he quickly added that their role is basically advisory.

Reacting for the first time in one week to the statement by the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun and Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan said he is not an absolute monarch and as such he is not authoritarian contrary to speculations.

According to him, “how else do you carry your lieutenants along other than following established procedure for appointment of chiefs by tabling the matter and calling for dispassionate discussions in the council?

Specifically referring to the appointment of Chief Mrs Iswat Amerigun and Chief Layi Olakojo as Iyaloja and Mayegun of Ibadanland respectfully which they alluded to, Oba Adetunji maintained that the High Chiefs were duly carried along before and during the chieftaincy installation ceremonies.

He stated that the minutes of the meetings showed that both High Chiefs Lekan Balogun and High Chief Olakulehin were quite aware ahead of the ceremonies.

“Contrary to their claim that they attended the installation of Chief Olakojo to honour former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Olubadan’s palace, the Olubadan wondered if it was possible for the two High Chiefs to know that Chief Obasanjo was going to attend the installation ceremonies, if they had not been briefed and invited ahead of schedule.

Concerning the installation of Iswat Amerigun as new Iyaloja of Ibadanland, which the two High Chiefs alluded to, the Olubadan stated that the criticism of the two High Chiefs was most unfortunate. He stated that all the High Chiefs were duly served by the council’s scribe, Mr. Kamorudeen Liasu.

Tracing the battle for the post of Iyaloja to last December, the Olubadan asked: Are High Chiefs Balogun and Olakulehin denying that the Olubadan-in-Council did not receive petitions alleging gross financial misconduct against the deposed Iyaloja, Madam Labake Lawal as far back as December last year? Are the High Chiefs claiming ignorance of the invitation of the two combatants and their supporters to the Olubadan-in-Council meeting where they were given the opportunity to state their own sides of the story as far back as January this year? Didn’t they listen to the deposed Iyaloja admitting that the association’s money was diverted to her private account with tellers tendered?

Has High Chief Lekan Balogun who claimed that he was not carried along suddenly forgotten that he was the head of the 4-man committee set up to probe the allegations against the deposed Iyaloja? If in doubt, the press should ask him why he failed to turn in his reports after the one week time frame up till today? What about a case of financial inducement reported at the palace by one of the probe committee members to leave the deposed Iyaloja alone?

Those who claimed not to have been carried along were at the meeting where the new Iyaloja was installed. Even, some of the complaining High Chiefs took pictures to congratulate the new Iyaloja.

“And as is custom, all the High Chiefs who were present collected the traditional gifs that go with the conferment of the installation ceremonies of all the chiefs including the new Iyaloja. So, if you go to equity, go with clean hands.

“Flagrant disregard to anointed authority is an abomination; especially in Yoruba land. Therefore they should wait for their own turn.”

Packaged by Kunle Gazali

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