Olubadan Coronation: Stop Causing Disaffection Among Ibadan People, Group Warns Makinde
By People’s Voice Nigeria | News
A group of prominent indigenes of Ibadanland, Oyo State Capital, “Ibile G-7”, has picked a hole in the Saturday’s statement issued by Governor Seyi Makinde that the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, would be enthroned, as soon as he is medically strong enough to withstand the coronation processes.
The group in a statement signed by its President and Secretary (Lanre Ogundipe and Jide Olaniyonu), made available to New Telegraph in Ibadan, said that the statement of the governor “has ignited and as well caused fresh controversies at a period when the indigenes of Ibadan land have gone to sleep and have forgotten that the issue was over and expecting good news about having a new person on the throne of their fatherland”.
Sunday Telegraph reports that Makinde had at the final burial of the immediate late Olubadan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun, held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan, confirmed that: “I have seen the recommendation of Olubadan-in-Council and I have accepted it, and as soon as Oba Olakulehin is strong enough, he will be enthroned because due process has been followed.”
Since traditionally, announcement of date of coronation of the next Olubadan is done during the final burial of his predecessor, Ibile G-7 felt it was disheartening that the governor would fail to announce the date, but instead kept the Ibadan people in suspense, asking whether Makinde is a medical doctor to have certified the 43rd Olubadan unfit yet for coronation.
The group said: “It is regrettable that the statement of the Governor of Oyo State Engineer Seyi Makinde on when the new Olubadan of Ibadan land Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin would be installed, has ignited and as well, caused fresh controversies at a period when the indigenes of Ibadanland have gone to sleep and have forgotten that the issue was over and expecting good news about having a new person on the throne of their fatherland.
The statement by Mr. Governor claiming that Oba Olakulehin would be crowned the new Olubadan as soon as he is medically fit was a big surprise to numerous Ibadan indigenes.
“Since the governor made that statement at the final burial of the immediate late Olubadan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Oke Ado, Ibadan, Ibadan people are now beginning to worry, as to the reason behind this statement, when it was expected that the governor would have on that day confirmed the date of the coronation of Oba Olakulehin as Olubadan.
“We in the Ibile G-7 which has prominent Ibadan Indigenes as members are not comfortable with this statement and have started wondering what could have informed governor Makinde’s statement.
“We are therefore asking Governor Makinde these pertinent questions, which require and deserve urgent answers.
“In the first place, who informed the governor that Oba Olakulehin is not medically fit.? Which hospital issued a report that the new Olubadan-elect is not fit and where was the Oba hospitalized to warrant that statement.?
“When has the issue of the installation of the Olubadan condescended to political debate or issues, at the expense of the millions of Ibadan indigenes?
“Does this mean that the silence of governor Makinde over the recommendation of Oba Olakulehin as the new Olubadan forwarded to him since, and which he too said he has accepted, was a deliberate attempt to delay the installation process?
“The people of Ibadan would be happy if Governor Makinde could tell them the motive behind this statement, which is debasing and derogatory to the age-long tradition of the ascendancy into the Olubadan stool.
“We in the Ibile G-7 group are sad that it is rather unfortunate that the much applauded Ibadan royal ascendancy has slipped into controversial contest, with governor Makinde at the centre.
“If governor Makinde according to his statement that he “has seen the recommendation of Olubadan in council and I have accepted it, and we will as soon as Oba Olakulehin is medically fit, enthrone him because due process has been followed”, is correct, one would say that the delay is uncalled for, and proper arrangement for the coronation of Oba Olakulehin should have followed in earnest without further delay.
“And the governor should as a sign of honour to the tradition of the land use that opportunity as well, to show his love and respect for the new Oba-elect, Baba Olakulehin.
“The Governor, to the chagrin of Ibadan indigenes, went further to say: ‘Myself and the House of Assembly on 26th Friday, May 2023, we amended the Chieftaincy Law of Oyo state, so that the governor will not need to meet with the council of chiefs for amendment of declaration of the traditional rulers, and myself and the late Olubadan, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, we amended the Ibadan chieftaincy declaration.
“Yes the governor has arrogated these powers to himself, which to some extent could be described as debasing and rendering the Obas as mere civil servants to be kicked up and down, and at the whims and caprices of the Governor.
“But with the powers, we believe it should not be used discriminately or amount to denying people their rights”, the statement read.
