Ladoja
•Olubadan gets 48 hours ultimatum to reverse action
The Oyo State Government yesterday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the Olubadan-In-Council to reverse the elevation of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Lekan Balogun and seven other high chiefs or face sanctions.
The nine high chiefs were each elevated to the next rank on Friday against an order of the state government that the nine chiefs should first submit themselves to security and medical examinations before promotion as required by Chieftaincy Law.
Their promotion was necessitated by the death of the Chief Sulaimon Omiyale, the Balogun of Ibadanland and Chief Omowale Kuye, the Otun Olubadan, in November, last year.
The deceased were next in throne to the Olubadan stool from both lines that produce the Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Last Friday, nine traditional chieftaincy title holders were promoted by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.
They are: High Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji, who was promoted from Otun Balogun to Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Sen. Lekan Balogun, formerly the Osi Olubadan now installed as the Otun Olubadan; High Chief Akinloye Olakulehin who moved from the Osi Balogun to the Otun Balogun rank; High Chief Senator Rashidi Ladoja was promoted from Ashipa Olubadan to Osi Olubadan and High Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa who was also promoted from Ashipa Balogun to Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.
Others are High Chief Sir Eddy Oyewole who was the Ekerin Olubadan now the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola formerly the Ekerin Balogun now Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan; High Chief Kola Daisi who was moved from the Ekarun Olubadan to the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief Solomom A. Adabale, who was promoted from the Ekarun Balogun to the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland.
The government, in a statement entitled: “The Illegal Elevation of Nine High Chiefs in Ibadanland: The Position of the Oyo State Government” yesterday expressed disappointment with the January 1 elevation of the high chiefs and ordered a reversal on the grounds of violation the relevant chieftaincy laws guiding such promotions.
The statement, signed by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Zaccheaus Jayeola, faulted the promotion which it said was done without the mandatory approval of the government.
The government insisted that the said promotion could not have been undertaken by the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, whom it described as “a forthright and foremost traditional ruler with an enviable track record of achievements and a firm believer in due process as well as a respecter of the rule of law.”
The statement read in part: “Government has observed with dismay and utter disappointment the recent ‘elevation’ of nine Ibadan High Chiefs by the Olubadan-in-Council without the mandatory approval of the Government of Oyo State. Government, as required under the Law, stated its position on the procedures for the elevation in its Public Service Announcement of 31st December 2015 and its letter to the OLUBADAN-IN-COUNCIL. The letter was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private secretary.
“It is to be noted for the avoidance of doubt that since the inception of the present administration, Government has resisted, as a matter of policy, any attempt to be lured into religious, chieftaincy and labour union leadership and other contentious issues.
“This is in order to maintain its neutrality, ensure fairness, justice and respect for the rule of law. Government will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and would neither encourage nor condone any tradition or peculiar culture of illegality, impunity, disregard and/or disrespect to constituted authority. Instead, it has concentrated on its avowed mission on the peace, safety of lives and property, security, welfare and empowerment of the people, infrastructural development, employment generation and urban renewal, among others, to make life more abundant for the teeming populace of the State.
“ It is in view of the foregoing that Government notes and states as follows:
(i) Government’s suspicion and ardent belief are that the recent purported elevation could not have received the blessing of our highly revered father and traditional ruler, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. He is reputed to be a forthright and foremost traditional ruler with an enviable track record of achievements and a firm believer in due process as well as a respecter of the rule of law.
(ii) It is for this same reason that the Olubadan of Ibadanland expectedly wrote an earlier letter requesting the Governor’s due approval for the elevation of the nine (9) High Chiefs in accordance with the provisions of Section 14(2) of the Oyo State Chiefs Law.
(iii) As a firm believer in the sacredness of tradition, His Royal Majesty had earlier cautioned and warned against politicising the Olubadan chieftaincy institution.
(iv) Otherwise, what could have been the reason behind the hasty elevation without observing due process, which Government is duly complying with?
(v) While the Government does not have any objection to the proposed elevation nor its beneficiaries, it is however insisting on due process and lawful procedure which had not been followed in the past.
(vi) The appointment and or elevation of deserving persons into the Stool of Part II Chieftaincies can only be made on the approval of His Excellency, the Governor as prescribed by the provision of Chiefs Laws, Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, whilst the Olubadan is the consenting authority.
(vii) On the receipt of the application for the elevation of the Chiefs, His Excellency, the Governor, applying Section 14(2) of the Chiefs Law, referred their names for the mandatory security checks by the Department of Security Services and mandated the candidates to, on their own, provide their certificates of medical status from a Government secondary health institution.
(viii) The status of the due process being carried out by Government was conveyed to the Olubadan via the Ibadan South East Local Government which was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private Secretary, in addition to the Government’s Public Service Announcement of Thursday, 31/12/15 relaying same.
(ix) To further reiterate the legal provision on the issue,
Sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws stipulate relevant sanctions against whoever contravenes the provisions of the Law.
(x) Apparently, the actions taken on the elevation of the chiefs as widely publicized is illegal. Moreso, when the Olubadan as the consenting authority had already commenced the due process by seeking the approval of the Governor for the appointment/elevation as prescribed by Law.
“Consequently, Government directs that the organisers and the beneficiaries to reverse the purported elevation WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THIS PUBLICATION, failing which appropriate sanctions will be invoked under sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The case of Ashekoya vs. Olawumi (1962) 1 All NLR 125 is instructive”
The Olubadan had told reporters shortly after the promotion ceremony at Monatan, Oba Odulana’s palace that presentation of security and health certificate of chiefs was alien to the culture and tradition of the town. The newly installed Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa, spoke on his behalf.
He said the council was not aware of the letter by the state government directing that the Chiefs should submit themselves to security and health check as well as its December 31 media statement publicizing the directive.
He said: “If you know the history of Ibadan traditional system, in the last two months we lost about two most senior high chiefs, the Balogun of Ibadanland and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland. Once that happens, the next thing is promotion for two lines of high chiefs in Ibadan. That is why vacancies exist for the Balogun line and the Otun Balogun line.
“Today’s promotions have to affect the four High Chiefs of the Balogun line, that is the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland who has just moved now to Balogun of Ibadanland and the Osi Olubadan who has just moved to Otun Olubadan. Also, those in line with them moved accordingly and we are nine in total from both lines.
“There is no much problem apart from that the processes wanted to be prolonged and the Ibadan traditional council did not accept that.
“We did not receive any letter from the government directing the Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and seven others to submit a medical report certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws. It has never happen before in Ibadan and it will not happen during our own reign.
“There is no letter of such. It is only a rumour. The only letter we received from government was an acknowledgement of the Olubadan asking the governor to give his consent and endorsement to the promoted high chiefs. If you understand the system in Ibadan, the king makers are the only ones empowered by the law to promote anybody including the Olubadan of Ibadanland and that is exactly what we have done today. The governor’s consent or endorsement is just a formality.
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