By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
The four-year-old crisis rocking the Ibadan chieftaincy institution was, on Thursday, laid to rest, after High Chiefs of the Olubadan-in-Council, who were crowned as Obas by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, agreed to drop their crowns and beads.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at Olubadan’s Palace in Oja’ba by members of the Olubadan-in-Council.
Also in attendance were the coronet-wearing Obas who were Baales in the suburbs of Ibadan before their elevation and some Mogajis.
Stonix News reports that Governor Seyi Makinde had, two days ago, directed a revert to the high chief status if the Olubadan succession process must sail through.
Osi Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting on Thursday, said they agreed with the governor on his directive to revert to the original concept.
He stressed that the original concept remains sacrosanct and constant as always.
Chief Ajibola recalled that the process of nominating the next Olubadan, which the kingmakers concluded on Tuesday, and passed to the appropriate quarters of government, was done according to the original concept under reference, as all the kingmakers signed their respective titles as High Chiefs.
Ajibola, who is one of the kingmakers and a lawyer by profession, said commenting on the case in court ‘is sub-judicial.’
He maintained that what was taken to court was an infringement on the fundamental human rights of the respective plaintiffs, asking the court to determine the lawfulness of judging a case in the absence of the direct beneficiaries of the issue in contest.
Ajibola said the governor could do his job in line with the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration while the case in court, which was adjourned for further hearing, is allowed to run its course.
Stonix News recalls that the controversy began in 2017 when the administration of late former Governor Ajimobi embarked on a reform of the age-long Ibadan traditional system, which culminated in the elevation of the High Chiefs to Royal Majesties and Baales to Royal Highnesses.
Though the case was yet to be finally determined, Governor Makinde, on Tuesday, during a condolence visit to the Popoyemoja Palace of the late Oba Adetunji, publicly denounced the reform carried out by his predecessor.
Makinde said that he would toe the path of the late Oba Adetunji on the issue, which was a total rejection of the reform and a revert to the pre-reform status of all the personalities involved.
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