There is ongoing controversy between Oyo State government and Olubadan-in-council over the recent elevation of nine high chiefs of Ibadanland, as the State government declared the elevation as illegal and ordered it's reverse within 48 hours.
The state government made its position known on the raging issue in a statement captioned: “The Illegal Elevation of Nine High Chiefs in Ibadanland,” signed by Director of Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Oyo State, Mr Z.A. Jayeola, on Monday.
Expressing dismay and disappointment at the development, the state government maintained that the elevation was without the mandatory approval of the Governor of Oyo State as prescribed by the provisions of Chief Laws, Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
Not failing to recognise the Olubadan of Ibadanland as the consenting authority in such elevation, government expressed uncertainty that the Olubadan would have consented to the elevation which, it noted, did not align with due process.
The government wondered the reason behind an elevation described as hasty and not in compliance with due process and lawful procedure.
On Thursday, December 31, 2015, the state government, in a letter by the Director of Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Z. A Jayeola, directed high chiefs jostling to occupy the vacant stools of 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.
The stools of Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland became vacant following the death, last November, of the former occupants, High Chiefs Suleiman Omiyale and Omowale Kuye, necessitating the upward movement of nine high chiefs.
However, contrary to the state government’s directive, the coronation of nine chiefs was held on Friday at the Olubadan’s palace without the provision of medical report and security checks by the Department of State Services on the prospective occupants of the stools.
Those promoted on Friday included High Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji, formerly the Otun Balogun, now the Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Lekan Balogun, the former Osi Olubadan, promoted to the rank of the Otun Olubadan; High Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin (Osi Balogun), now the Otun Balogun; High Chief Senator Rashidi Ladoja, promoted from Ashipa Olubadan to the rank of the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa, who was promoted from Ashipa Balogun to Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.
Others were High Chief Eddy Oduoye Oyewole, formerly the Ekerin Olubadan, now the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola, formerly the Ekerin Balogun, now the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Biodun Kola Daisi, the Ekarun Olubadan, now the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief Solomom A. Adabale, who was formerly the Ekarun Balogun, now the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland.
Asserting the legality of its position in Monday’s statement, the government warned that sections 21 and 26 of the Chief Laws, which stipulated relevant sanctions for anyone who contravened the provisions of the law, would be activated if the elevation status quo remained.
The statement partly read: “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.
“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 provisions of Chiefs Laws, Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, whilst the Olubadan is the consenting authority.
“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.
“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, December 31, 2015, relaying same.
“Government directs 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 Chief Laws, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The case of Ashekoya vs Olawumi (1962) 1 All NLR 125.”
“In the same vein, you are requested to advise the affected chiefs to submit their medical reports issued by a state-owned secondary health institution to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as part of requirements for being considered for the vacant stools.”
- Rexinews
- Tribune
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