Culture

Uncertainty In Ibadan Over Olubadan’s Successor

Published

1 month ago

March 28, 2024

JRan

Following the demise of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, there has been indications that all may not be going as planned with activities leading to the selection of the next Olubadan.

According to Ibadan tradition, it is believed that the the enthronement process for the next in line to the throne of the Olubadan was expected to begin immediately after the eighth-day prayer of the late Olubadan, which was held last week.

According to Premium Times, a meeting by the Olubadan advisory council, which was expected to have in attendance the next in line to the Olubadan throne, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, slated to hold on Tuesday, did not hold as planned.

At the planned meeting, Oba Olakulehin’s nomination was to be made by the Olubadan in council, and his nomination thereafter forwarded to the state governor.

However, there have been concerns regarding Oba Olakulehin’s health status as he has not been seen in public since the demise of the late Olubadan. He was also absent at the eighth-day prayer for the late Olubadan.

At the meeting convened by the Otun Olubadan, Rasheed Ladoja, billed to hold at Oja Oba on Tuesday, council members expected at the venue were absent as only Mr Ladoja himself was present.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Ladoja said other members of the Olubadan in council, who were absent, said the Olubadan-designate has not spoken to them. They have also not been able to ascertain his health condition.

He added that they were sceptical about whether he would be able to perform the roles of the Olubadan or not.

“The meeting was called for today and I am supposed to be the convener of the meeting. That is why I am here.

“He is also supposed to be here. But they want to make sure that he is ready, and when he is ready, he will be able to talk to them. I will call the meeting again anytime they are ready,” Mr Ladoja said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Council of Obas in Ibadan land had on Monday held a meeting from which High Chief Ladoja was excluded.

One of the council members, Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, disclosed that they held a meeting at the same Oja Oba on Monday but the next-in-line to Olubadan throne, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, was absent.

Oba Ajibade said the next-in-line to the Olubadan’s throne cannot be nominated in absentia for approval by Governor Seyi Makinde.

He said nine of them, who were crowned kings, were present at the meeting except for Oba Olakulehin.

He also disclosed that the meeting was for Obas and not Chiefs, saying they are the Oba Advisory Council.

“Nine of us were in attendance. All of us are Royal Majesties. We are the Obas that the late Oba Lekan Balogun gave crowns to by the power conferred on him by our governor, Seyi Makinde.

“We are the Oba Advisory Council. We are not chiefs. The only Oba who was not present at the meeting was Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, and we cannot nominate him in his absence,” he said.

Oba Ajibade also stated that they had visited the house of Oba Olakulehin upon the demise of the late Olubadan but were told by his son, Sunbo Owolabi, that he was not around.

“We met his son, who told us that Baba was not around. We told him that anytime he is around, they should let us know in order for us to pay homage to him as the new Olubadan.

“Everybody knows what is going on in Ibadan. We know the next king. That is Baba Owolabi. He is the one that will become His Imperial Majesty,” he added.

He, however, disclosed that he was unaware of the meeting Mr Ladoja convened.

“I am not aware of any scheduled meeting. We, the Obas, met on Monday, and it was concluded that we will continue to wait till we see the new Oba,” Oba Ajibade said.

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Oluwo of Oyo files petition against Basorun over alleged criminal conspiracy, threat to life

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

JRan

The Oluwo Alaafin of Oyo, Chief Ikusaanu lfaleye lyanda, has filed a petition against the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Ayoola, over alleged criminal conspiracy, threat to life and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace in oyo town, Oyo State.

The petition, signed by the lawyer to Oluwo, M.R. Idowu Esq, was addressed to Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat.

“We act as Solicitors to Chief Ikusaanu lfaleye lyanda (Oluwo Alaafin of Oyo Town) (Hereinafter referred to as our Client) and pursuant to whose instructions we write this petition.

“It is the instructions of our client that on the April 8, 2024, Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola (Bashorun of Oyo Town) invited the Oluwo lsheke of Oyo Town in person of Chief Ifaniyi Omoyeni Ayinla to his home. He subsequently told Chief Ifaniyi Omoyeni Ayinla to go and warn our client that failure to support his choice to ascend the throne of Alaafin would subject our client to facing his wrath as the Prime Minister of Oyo kingdom.

“Furthermore, Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola (Bashorun of Oyo Town) boasted openly that he would harm various unknown individuals with various kinds of dangerous weapons to maliciously and intentionally attack our client, if our client fails to succumb to his threatening demands and command.

“Sir, as if that was not enough, Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola (Bashorun of Oyo Town) has now resorted to threatening fire and brimstones and warned our client not to move freely within Oyo Town and its environs. He boasted in strong words to get rid of our client and also terminate our client’s chieftaincy title.

“Sir, it is our fear that if these reckless criminal activities and threats are allowed to continue unabated, the situation might snowball into intractable civil unrest in the entire community and its neighbouring areas.

“This development has brought untold hardship and discomfort to our client.

“We, therefore, humbly request that our complaint be investigated by your good office and if found culpable, the said guilty individual be prosecuted for criminal conspiracy, threat to life and conduct likely to cause the breach of public peace,” the petition read.

Culture

Alaafin: Oyo Mesi appeals as court strikes out case against Makinde, commissioners

Published

6 days ago

April 21, 2024

JRan

An Oyo High Court sitting in Awe, Afijio Local Council of Oyo State, has struck out a case filed by kingmakers in Oyo (Oyo Mesi) against Governor Seyi Makinde, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo over administrative defect.

It would be recalled that the Alaafin stool became vacant following the death of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III at 82. Selecting the next Alaafin has since then become a subject of litigation.

The claimants in the suit no HOY/14/2023 are the Bashorun of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

The claimants were seeking a court injunction restraining Makinde and his agents from overruling their choice on the selected candidate for the vacant stool.

According to them, “due diligence was followed in the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

While ruling on the notice of preliminary objection as filed by the defendants, Justice Ladiran Akintola said there was no proof of service to notify the governor of the outcome of the selection process as carried out by the kingmakers.

The failure to serve the notice of the outcome on the governor made the court strike out the case.

The court ruled: “This court found merit in the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the defendants/applicants against the claimants/respondents in this case.

“The same succeeds; accordingly all the issues raised for determination of this court by learned counsels on both sides are thereby resolved in favour of the defendants/applicants but against the claimants/respondents.

“Consequently, the suit initiated by the claimants/respondents in this case against the defendants/applicants is thereby struck out.”

The lead counsel for the claimants, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), yesterday said a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal have been filed at the Court of Appeal and Oyo High Court respectively.

Sobaloju said the judgment was based on a preliminary objection filed by the defendants.

He said: “We have filed a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal. What was considered on Tuesday was the notice for preliminary objection. The merit of the case is yet to be considered.”

Culture

Alaafin Stool: Court strikes out Kingmakers’ case against Makinde

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

JRan

Oyo High Court sitting in Awe has struck out a case filed by Oyo kingmakers against Governor Seyi Makinde, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy matters on the vacant Alaafin of Oyo stool over administrative defect.

The claimants in suit no HOY/14/2023 are; the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

They are seeking a court injunction restraining the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and his agents from overruling their selected candidate for the vacant throne of the Alaafin of Oyo.

They argued that due diligence was followed in the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

But Justice Ladiran Akintola, while ruling on the Notice of Preliminary objection filed by the defendants, said there is no proof of service to notify the governor of the outcome of the kingmakers’ selection process.

The failure to serve the notice of their on the governor thereby affects the substantive case and as such the case was struck out.

It was stated in the ruling that, “This Court found merit in the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the Defendants/Applicants against the Claimants/Respondents in this case.

“The same succeeds; accordingly all the issues raised for determination of this Court by the learned counsel on both sides are thereby resolved in favour of the Defendants/ Applicants but against the Claimants/ Respondents.

“Consequently the suit initiated by the Claimants/Respondents in this case against the Defendants/ Applicants are thereby struck out”

Meanwhile, the lead counsel to the claimants Kunle Sobaloju (SAN) in a telephone interview with the Saturday Tribune disclosed that a Notice of Appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal have been filed at the Court of Appeal and Oyo High Court respectively.

Commenting on the judgement, Sobaloju (SAN) said, the judgement that was passed on Tuesday was on a preliminary objection filed by the defendant which is the Governor of Oyo State, Attorney General of Oyo State and Commissioner for Local government and Chieftancy Affairs.

“By that preliminary objection after we filed our case which they challenged against on the ground that we did not comply with the condition precedence of filing an action of that nature.

“According to them, what was the condition precedence, they said the Secretary of the local government, Atiba local government did not notify the governor of the Oyomesi on the selection of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the candidate to fill the stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

“Our response to that objection is to the effect that that duty is imposed on by the law that is section 19 of the Chieftaincy law on the Secretary to the Local government and not on the kingmakers and we exhibited evidence that the kingmakers forwarded their decision to the Secretary of Atiba local government.

“We also exhibited a letter from the Secretary of Atiba local government acknowledged by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. That is the only means by which the governor can be involved. You can not go to the governor and serve him directly.

“We also argued that even if the issue is an issue of evidence the governor can only prove whether he was served or not with proof of evidence.

“It is not the issue that the Court can determine by way of preliminary objection.

” However, it is the failure to serve the notice of the decision of the kingmakers on the governor that affects our case and as such it was struck out.

“We have filed a Notice of Appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal.

“What was considered on Tuesday was the Notice for Preliminary objection. The merit of the case is yet to be considered”