The expected peaceful installation of a new Olubadan is being threatened…
The Olubadan-in-Council has dismissed calls by the Head of Seriki family line in Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, that the kingmakers should install him as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The last occupier of the throne, Oba Samuel Odugade, died on Tuesday at the age of 101, having reigned over the ancient city for eight years.
By Ibadan succession system, the Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, holds pole position to be the successor to the respected traditional position.
But 89yrs old Oyediji had warned that
the Olubadan-in-Council would be flouting a 1989 ruling of the Supreme Court, which granted him the right to become the next king of Ibadan after Oba Odugade’s reign if it crowned 87-year-old Adetunji as the new Ibadan king.
He had said, “I am the next to be installed (the) Olubadan and not Adetunji.”
He claimed that the last Otun Seriki, Chief Adisa Akinloye, was denied the opportunity to become Olubadan before he died in 2007, stressing that Seriki family was third line in Olubadan succession system.
Oyediji said he was already in court to ensure that the Supreme Court judgment, which was in his family’s favour, was obeyed.
But while speaking on behalf of the Olubadan-in-Council on Thursday, the Ashipa Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Abimbola Ajibola, said the Seriki line was not recognised in the city’s succession plan to the kingship and therefore had no right to become the Olubadan.
Ajibola, who spoke after a meeting of the high chiefs at the home of the late Olubadan, debunked Oyediji’s claim that there was a Supreme Court ruling that qualified him as the next king of the ancient city.
He said, “It is undisputed that the next Olubadan is High Chief Saliu Adetunji; that is the only authentic Olubadan-in-waiting, any other one is a counterfeit.”
High Chief Ajibola pointed out that no court ruling would set aside or supersede the Olubadan succession system and that the law, as spelt out, must always be respected.
He added that apart from the Olubadan-in-Council, no one could declare himself as the Olubadan.
“In this (our) institution, we have two lines that are recognised by law (to occupy the throne of the Olubadan). We have the Otun Olubadan line and the Balogun line; that is all. There is no third line.
“Nobody is competent to say that he wants to be the Olubadan. No one can appoint himself; so, the man (Oyediji) cannot put himself there. We are not aware of any judgment that he is claiming because at the moment, there is nothing like a Seriki line,” the Ashipa said.
The President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Wole Akinwande, said the history of succession in the city should be respected.
“In the history of Ibadanland, no Seriki has ever become Olubadan and if you go by the history, there is nothing to fight about. The law court is there and Seriki has gone to court. As far as the history goes, which is my own personal opinion, Seriki is not in line to become the Olubadan,” he stressed.
