Ibadan chieftaincy crisis deepens as 21 Obas give Olubadan deposition notice

Akinade Adepoju
Akinade Adepoju
Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji

The 21 Ibadan kings, installed by the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on August 27, 2017, have issued a dethronement notice to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

The Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council fell out after the governor crowned them and some Baales in accordance with the report of Justice Boade panel set up by Ajimobi to review the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

At a press conference addressed by the 21 kings at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Monday, leader of the group, Oba Lekan Balogun, who is also the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, accused the monarch of taking unilateral decisions on behalf of the ‘Olubadan-Kings-in-Council’ and inciting the people against the state government.

Among the many allegations levelled against the monarch was taking actions on behalf of the council without inputs from members.

They also accused him of inciting the people against the state government, saying this was not representative of the relationship between the council and the government.

The Obas also queried the meetings of the Olubadan-in-Council, saying they were not conducted properly.

They further accused the Olubadan of allowing interests within and outside the palace to manipulate him to their own advantage.

Though the Obas said they were not keen on deposing the Olubadan, they said the council would recommend his removal from office to the governor if he failed to change.

Among those who attended the conference were Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Oba Abimbola Ajibola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Lateef Adebimpe, Oba Amidu Ajibade and Oba Kola Adegbola.

The spokesman for the monarch, Adeola Oloko, he said he was yet to get the details of the development, promising to respond accordingly.

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