Stakeholders in Ibadanland on Saturday commended the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Sen. Dr. Olalekan Ishola Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, over total removal of Mogaji Olawale Oladoja as Mogaji Akinsola village over his disrespect to the stool of Olubadan and Olubadan-in-Council.
They described it as right step in right direction to savage traditional institution in Ibadanland, saying Mogaji Oladoja’s removal would serve as deterrent to others who may have such in mind.
Recalled that Mogaji Wale Ladoja in a press conference held recently accused a member of Olubadan-in-council, Oba Hamidu Ajibade of playing double standard by being so close to Governor Seyi Makinde and at the same time working against the interest of Governor Makinde.
He said most of the problems confronting the culture and tradition can be traced to over ambition of Oba Hamidu Ajibade and his eye service. He was also reported to have accused Oba Hamid Ajibade of Illegal mining activities.
Mogaji Ladoja also challenged roles being played by CCII, saying they shouldn’t be all about partying and merry making but be a check on activities that can assist in the development of Ibadanland.
He also described as unfair and act of paying good with evil as demonstrated with inability to recognize the goodwill and all efforts made by Governor Makinde towards development of Ibadanland and most especially, completion of Olubadan’s palace.
Mogaji Ladoja was quoted saying one can now wonder why Makinde who has contributed to such magnitude was denied honour by his dear own people
But Olubadan has directed Akinsola family to nominate another member of the family whom they found worthy of the position to replace Oladoja.
Mogaji Oladoja was sometimes spended as Mogaji by Olubadan following his dastard activities in the Akinsola Village in Akinyele Local Government area of Oyo State, and was later pardoned by Olubadan after apologising to the monarch and Olubadan-in-Council.
The decision to removed Mogaji Oladoja has been widely commended by Kabiyesis, Ibadan Chiefs, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland, Baales, prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland within and outside the Country, saying at least, there will be some elements of dignities and decencies within Ibadan Traditional system.
A statement by President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori and Coordinator, Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade said the judgement passed on Oladoja was well deserved.
According to the duo, hard earned good image of Ibadan traditional institution should not be tarnished, hence, the need to savage it.
Recalled that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun on Saturday 9 March, 2024 sacked Mogaji Olawale Oladoja as Mogaji Akinsola of Opopo Labiran Family Compound, Ibadan over direspectful to Olubadan stool and by extension, Olubadan-in-Council.
Mogaji Oladoja’s removal came barely six months after suffering short suspension as Mogaji by the Olubadan Advisory Council.
According to the media aide to the monarch, Oladele Ogunsola stated that the decision was the fall-out of emergency meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council presided over by Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun at his Alarere residence.
Ogunsola said the meeting had in attendance representatives of the Association of Mogajis of Ibadanland led by its President-General, Chief Asimiyu Ariori and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Suleiman Raufu, who stood in for Chief Barr. Niyi Ajewole, the President-General of the Council.
Ogunsola said big axe fell on Oladoja on account of his recent media outbursts considered disrespectful to the Olubadan stool and by extension the traditional institution of Ibadanland.
He said “The media reports credited to the deposed Mogaji, according to the Council were described as divisive, disparaging and insulting and unbecoming of a supposed leader, who is expected to be urbane and cautious in deeds and actions, stressing that the conduct of Oladoja since his short suspension about six months ago was not suggestive of any sense of remorse.
“It would be recalled that the same Olubadan Advisory Council ordered the suspension of Oladoja over inhuman execution of supposed court judgment on a land matter and for which he threw out some residents of Akinsola village in Akinyele Local Government area of the state, a conduct then described as untoward and a breach of the peace.
“At Saturday’s meeting, the Council recalled that the suspension placed on him then did not last long because of his perceived genuine remorse and principally, because of His Imperial Majesty’s peaceful disposition, “the recent outbursts by the same person have shown him as somebody without no iota of respect for constituted authority and any failure to bring upon him the full weight of the Council’s power would amount to condoning of indiscipline”.
“To drive home the point, the Akinsola Family which produced him in the first instance was subsequently asked to present another person to replace him as the Mogaji of the family if they are still interested in having a substantive Mogaji.
“The deposed Mogaji was invited to the meeting but failed to show up on an excuse that his mother died about 24 hours to the meeting, an alibi that failed to convince the Council. Members, who spoke on his excuse described it as a gimmick to evade interrogation on the allegations against him and said they could not be swayed by such antics.
“According to the members, “a person of his character and his love for social media could not have hidden such a very important incident from the public through social media announcement. What’s more, he had made two different posts on the social media today without any faint reference to the said news of his mother’s death. His refusal to honour the invitation is like adding salt to an injury”.
