By Iyabo Adebisi
Oyo State governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde has presented the Staff of Office to the former High Chiefs in Ibadan and would be addressed as Royal majesties.
With the development, the newly elevated obas are now wearing beaded crowns.
Speaking at the coronation ceremony held at the ancient Mapo hall in Ibadan, Governor Makinde said the elevation of the high chiefs was borne out of the need to reform chieftaincy laws in Oyo state.
Governor Makinde noted that the promotion of the Obas doesn’t make them higher than the Olubadan of Ibadan in exerting his authority.
While congratulating the Olubadan for making history, Governor Makinde challenged the newly promoted kings to do the needful for their subjects.
The governor is however optimistic that any aggrieved person who seeks redress in court over the elevation would fail as due process was followed in the review of the Oyo chieftaincy laws.
Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun said the elevation wouldn’t have come to be without the approval by the Olubadan Advisory Council.
The Olubadan who spoke through the former Head of Service in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, said there was a consensus on the need for some of the Baales in Ibadanland to wear crowns and be addressed as Obas.
He added that the elevation of some of them Baales in Ibadanland to Obas as Royal Highnesses would come up as phase two at a later date.
He said: “We cannot do without reference to the indignation our High Chiefs suffer at public gatherings where they are usually denied their well-deserved courtesies and treated shabbily, where an Oba of a community not as populous as my Aliiwo family compound is given all respect and reverence simply because there’s a crown on his head and addressed as ‘Oba’.
“Another notable observation worthy of public clarification has to do with the fear of the stool of Olubadan losing respect, honour and prestige because of the elevation of the High Chiefs to Beaded Crown-Wearing Obas as Royal Majesties. I don’t think it can happen or I don’t see it happening because the stool of Olubadan is a sacred one that nobody dares desecrate for whatever reason or purpose.
“What’s more, today’s High Chiefs are tomorrow’s Olubadans and the law of what you sow, you will reap or the admonition of our forefathers that when you want to go and bury your senior brother nakedly, take along your younger brother (Eni to ba fe lo sin egbon e ni ihoho, ko ranti mu aburo re lowo) should remain our guide.
Radio Nigeria reports that ten out the eleven kingmakers came for the promotion while Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja was absent at the coronation ceremony.
The newly promoted Obas include High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola and Eddy Oyewole, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Otun Olubadan, Otun Balogun respectively.
Also included are High Chiefs Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun); Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ashipa Olubadan); and Kolawole Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun).
Others are High Chiefs Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan); Dada Isioye (Ekerin Balogun); Adebayo Akande (Ekarun Olubadan); and Abiodun Dauda Azeez (Ekarun Balogun).
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