Following the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Salihu Adetunji, there has been different speculation as to who would replace the late highly revered king.
According to a hierarchy of Ibadan chiefs, Lekan Balogun has been touted to be the next Olubadan of Ibadan land.
However, the attention of the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has been drawn to a traditional illegality that may occur in an attempt to install Lekan Balogun as the new Olubadan.
This was stated in a letter dated January 3, titled ‘Re: Installation of a new Olubadan of Ibadan land,’ signed by a former attorney general and commissioner for justice in Oyo State, Michael F. Lana Esq.
In the letter, the former commissioner of justice drew the attention of the governor to an existing suit No./22/202o-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS vs GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & ORS.
The suit followed the action of Lekan Balogun, conferring the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and Baales, and giving them the right to wear beaded crowns in 2017.
The letter partly reads: ”May I firstly, commiserate with you on the demise of His Royal Majesty Oba Saliu Adetunji Ogunguniso 1, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. May his soul rest in peace.
”Secondly, may I humbly draw your attention to a traditional aberration and illegality that may occur in an attempt to install another Olubadan of Ibadan land in view of the existence of suit No./22/202o-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS vs GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & ORS.
”Kindly note, Your Excellency, that your predecessor in office, without thinking of the legal effects of his actions on the future of Ibadan traditional institution, conferred the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and Baales and gave them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets in 2017.
”This action was challenged in suit No M317/2017-HIGH CHIEF RASHIDI LADOJA vs THE GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE. The high court per Aiki J. nullified the said conferment which was actually a total contravention of both the chiefs law and the Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.
”However, the court of appeal, in appeal No.CA/IB/99/2018 set aside the judgment of Aiki J on technical grounds without touching on the merit of the case and sent the case back for retrial.
”Upon your Excellency’s assumption of office, it was resolved that the matter be settled amicably and same was settled through the instrumentality of terms of settlement which became the judgment of the court.
”The said terms of settlement recognized the illegality of the said actions and therefore set aside the gazettes by which the said chiefs became Obas with a right to wear beaded crowns and coronets.
”These high chiefs and Baales were dissatisfied with this consent judgment and therefore instituted two separate suits to set aside the consent judgment while at the same time clinging to the title of Obas (which actually is in contempt of court). One of these cases is suit No.1/22/2020-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS vs GOVERNOR OYO STATE & ORS.
”Now may I draw your Excellency’s attention to the fact that in committing this aberration which changed the Ibadan Chieftaincy customary law, the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration of 1957 was not amended and therefore remains extant.
”Under the declaration and all relevant laws, no oba can ascend to the throne of Olubadan. In other words, as long as the high chiefs still cling to the title of Oba, they can not ascend to that throne and any installation of any of them during the pendency of the suit is illegal, null, and void.
”In the entire history of Ibadan land we have never had such a situation where the legality or otherwise of the installation of the Olubadan would be an issue and this was what your predecessor did not take into consideration before venturing into an illegal journey.
”Ibadan chieftaincy elevation had always been smooth and without any rancor to the envy of all other towns.’
”It is in line with this legal situation that I advice, most humbly, that you should withhold any approval of any high chief to become the Olubadan so that you will not also join in the desecration of Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.”
