The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso1 has stated that the review of the city’s chieftaincy law, which is calculated to create mushroom royalties and cheap crowns in Ibadanland is not backed by him.
The monarch who in his reaction a statement credited to Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun that Kabiyesi was not forced to accept the chieftaincy review, the High Chief was not telling the truth about his position at the meeting recently held with the Governor and Ibadan High Chiefs as he had never supported the review in the first instance.
Adeola Oloko ,the Media and Public Affairs to His Imperial Majesty Olubadan of Ibadanland in a press statement made available to our reporter quoted Olubadan saying “for the avoidance of doubt, I, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, do not back the city’s chieftaincy review. And I want the present generation and posterity to record me as having nothing to do with it. First, I can never support the review of the system that works.
The statement reads further that “Secondly, I cannot support the review of the system that has produced me as Olubadan without rancour, as doing so would be amount to an act of ingratitude to God Almighty and the people of Ibadanland’.
“ Besides, what right does Otun have to speak for the Olubadan-in-Council when the Chairman of the said council has not directed him to do so?
According to him, all chiefs in Ibadanland subscribed to an oath to uphold our custom and tradition before they are conferred with chieftaincy titles. Yielding to pressure to have changes effected is like going against your oath and circumventing the route to the exalted throne”.
The Olubadan noted that there are neighbouring towns and communities whose monarchs have joined their ancestors several years back but due to succession disputes and dynastic struggle have not been able to fill it.
The monarch insisted that he could not envisage Ibadan falling into this trap if the Olubadan succession is reversed. He stated that the tape in which he was reported as saying that he backed the reform was doctored, as he still maintained that he never supported the move.
The question asked him in that tape was whether he supported the expansion and development of Ibadan, which he said yes as long as the Governor also support it.
