As the 2023 Annual Ibadan Festival Week kicked off on Sunday, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II has promised on behalf of his Advisory Council to plead with the members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes’ (CCII) Board of Trustees (BoT) not to abandon the apex Ibadan socio-cultural organization.
This promise was made Oba Lekan Balogun while reacting to the valedictory presentation made by the outgoing President-General of the CCII, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga at the Alarere residence of the monarch on the commencement of the last Ibadan Festival Week to be coordinated by Prince Adeaga.
It would be recalled that the CCII held its biennial election penultimate Friday in which Prince Adeaga lost his bid to return for another term of two years as his opponent, Barr. Niyi Ajewole carried the day in an election that was preceded by acrimony, the dimension that had never been witnessed in CCII history.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, Olubadan, who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola said the Olubadan Advisory Council would call and appeal to the CCII BoT members to sheath their swords in the interest of Ibadanland.
The monarch remarked that the worries expressed by the outgoing CCII PG that the CCII BoT members deserve every accordable respect in view of their antecedents and pedigree are germane and worth being addressed, saying, “we acknowledge the worries and concern of the outgoing PG on the subject-matter and we would look into it. The BoT members are statesmen in every right and their selfless service must not be compensated with abuse and insults”.
Congratulating the PG and his out-going executive committee for a successful tenure and for the peaceful election, the monarch promised to look into other issues passed to the Olubadan and his Council members, asking the outgoing team not to abandon the CCII for whatever reason, but to always be ready to give their valuable advices as occasions may demand with the conviction that whatever they do if for Ibadan cause and for any individual or group of persons.
Earlier in his valedictory remark to the Olubadan, ably supported by Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Otun Balogun and Osi-Balogun, High Chiefs Tajudeen Ajibola and Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe respectively as well as the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr. Kola Balogun, Prince Adeaga had disclosed that the CCII BoT members felt bad as a result of abuses and insults heaped on them during the crisis preceding the CCII election mentioned earlier.
The outgoing PG said the BoT members had all disclosed their intention to resign their membership, but said he had been persuading them underneath not to do so because of the implication of such decision on the CCII. “The BoT members felt very bad with the way and manner they were verbally attacked by some of those opposing me before the election, following which they told me of their decision to quit the job.
“I have been going round to beg and persuade them to rescind their decision and I hereby plead with our Royal Father and your Majesty’s Council members to help step into it and appeal to them. I know with your Majesty’s intervention, they would hear my plea. They are not resigning because of me, but, because of the verbal attack they received while the imbroglio preceding our election lasted and I felt that’s not the best way to treat these selfless oldies.
“All of them are accomplished personalities in their respective chosen careers and had diligently served this country without any blemish, and they now wonder why their selfless community service, rather than bring them accolades would now rubbish their untainted years of meritorious service to their fatherland?
“Even, if they would leave the service of the CCII, in my view, it should not be on a sour note of that nature which is why I’m saddling you, our revered fathers with the task of mediating towards amicable resolution. The last time we came here, our revered father directed that we should go and hold our election and by the grace of the Almighty God, I ensured that the election was peacefully held as we are all aware.
“We thank God for how far He has led us and we are grateful for the support received from our Royal Father and your members of Council in the last two years. We believe no individual is greater than Ibadan and whatever we have done was in Ibadan interest and we will continue to hold Ibadan very dear to our hearts, not minding the change of leadership baton”, Prince Adeaga stated.
The week long activities commences on Monday and ends on Saturday with the grand finale at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (Former Liberty Stadium) where Olubadan and his members of Advisory Council are expected to sit and watch the various events lined up and award presentations to deserving individuals and corporate bodies.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola
