Recognized Mogajis (Family Heads) in Ibadan has described the coronation and elevation of High Chiefs and Baales to the status of Obas as a “creation of political expediency” while urging Oyo Government to change its mind on the issue.
They stated this during a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre Iyaganku Ibadan on Tuesday.
Former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi (Mogaji Olugbesan) who spoke on behalf of his colleagues rubbished the chieftaincy review as he maintained that “The White paper is manifestation of distorting history, culture and monolithic tradition unique to Ibadanland, it is unacceptable to the majority of the people of Ibadanland”.
The Recognized Mogajis who are said to be the recognized by the Olubadan of Ibadanland in their paper titled “Political onslaught on Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration Threat to Unity and Monolithic Structures in Ibadanland” declared that they are not happy with the elevation of the High Chiefs without domains.
“The High Chiefs that were mootly promoted as ‘Obas’ have no territorial governance and cannot exercise Obaship. No socio-economic development can be associated with a warrant Oba.
“It is a creation of political expediency. There is no authority to be exercised over particular territory, in order words no legitimacy can be conferred on them by the citizen thus negating the reciprocatory principle of ruler and subject.
“High Chiefs were upgraded to Oba’s without domains, Obas without palace. This gave a resemblance of the colonial structures of creating warrant chiefs in Iboland. The system is characterized by imposition, oligarchy and fascism”.
“Are we going to be having Royal families in Ibadan? Impossible. Now the Otun Olubadan has been surreptitiously promoted as Oba, can he succeed Olubadan with his new Obaship without creating fractures into the traditional institution of succession and ascendancy to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chietfaincy”.
The Recognized Mogajis then strongly admonished the state government to rescind its decision and maintain the statusquo.
“It is our prayer that Oyo State government will change her decision and maintain status quo ante bellum, a position before the creation and reviewing of the Ibadanland Chieftaincy declaration – the creation of hostilities by the Oyo State government. This is because Ibadan Chieftaincy system like any other Yoruba Chieftaincy is inextricably connected and interwoven with land tenure.
The group, however, warned that “Finally, any government trying to lure Chieftaincy matter into political maneuvering in whatever guise is igniting a pandora box of violence full of gunpower, calpable of exploding any time.
“We hereby appeal to all the indigenes and non indigenes of Ibadan to be calm and resolute in their support of our Kabiyesi, Oba Saliu Adetunji and his council members. Together we shall change for good”.
Packaged by Ojo Peter
