I don’t need high chiefs’ endorsement to install chiefs —Olubadan

I don’t need high chiefs’ endorsement to install
chiefs —Olubadan
by Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji,
has said he does not need the endorsement of
the high chiefs before he can confer honorary
traditional titles on recipients.
Our correspondent learnt that the monarch will
on November 11, 2017, honour the Minister of
Communications, Adebayo Shittu, with the title of
Agbaakin Afiwagboye of Ibadan land, and others.
This development, observers noted, could further
deepen the crisis between the Olubadan and
some of his high chiefs, who were elevated by
the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi to the
status of kings recently.
The new kings had opposed the move by the
Olubadan to confer traditional titles on Shittu
and others on Saturday (tomorrow).
But speaking through his Director, Media and
Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko, on Thursday, the
Olubadan said that he was aware of the high
chiefs’ opposition to the ceremony.
The monarch insisted that the decision to honour
worthy individuals resided with him as the king.
The statement said, “The Olubadan has declared
that the title conferment ceremony slated for
Saturday, November, 11, 2017 and beyond by him
at his palace on distinguished individuals is
unstoppable and irreversible as he does not need
the involvement and endorsement of any high
chief to perform his role.
“The Olubadan is reacting to a statement
credited to two high chiefs on the proposed
conferment of the honorary chieftaincy titles on
deserving individuals. The two high chiefs are
contradicting themselves with their statements in
the media
“There is no rule and regulation that the king has
flouted by prescribing and appointing deserving
individuals for title conferment as the law that
affirms the Olubadan as the prescribed and
appointing authority on chieftaincy matters which
predated his ascension to the exalted throne of
the Olubadan is still in force and has not been
repealed. While the Olubadan is a legal
personality, the Olubadan advisory council is not,
as it is basically an Advisory Council without any
legal instrument whatsoever.
“The king will like to urge those concerned to
read the chieftaincy laws guiding the operations
of Olubadan and his chiefs thoroughly and
properly to discover the truth. The Olubadan also
called the law enforcement agents, particularly
the police to rise up to the task of providing the
needed security to avoid the repeat of the
September 25, 2017 incident when some yet-to-
be identified gunmen invaded the palace during a
chieftaincy installation.”
On the visit of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba
Abdulrasheed Akanbi, to Ajimobi and his (Oluwo)
peace move over the crisis trailing the
installation of 21 kings by the governor, the
Olubadan said he appreciated the move.
The monarch, however, said he would not
compromise the customs of the land and would
prefer that the court rule on the case he
instituted against the governor and others over
the issue.
“The king will not in any way compromise Ibadan
customs and traditions, though he acknowledged
that the Oluwo visited him in his palace
sometime ago. As the custodian of the traditions
and customs of Ibadan people, he will not come
short of the expectations of the people by
legitimising mushroom crowns.
“The king prefers that since the matter is before
the court of competent jurisdiction, he will not
want to say much other than to thank all the
royal fathers and other stakeholders that are
initiating peace moves,” the statement added.