UNKNOWN GUNMEN HARASSES AT THE OLUBADAN'S PALACE SHOOTING TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY

Oba Saliu Adetunji, Olubadan of Ibadan

Chief Rashidi Ladoja

Chief Femi Lanlehin

In a move akin to unnecessary harassment and foolish intimidation tactics, 4 unknown men most likely sent by opponents of the King, appeared at the front of the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan yesterday at Popoyemoja shooting repeatedly to intimidate those at the palace of the king as he was installing some new Mogajis and Baales.

The 4 dastardly actors apparently came in a black Toyota Sienna mini-van which was their operational vehicle.

The gun wielding hoodlums after positioning themselves at the front of the palace of the monarch at just before noon, began to shoot repeatedly for a bit demanding that those who dared to, to confront or engage them. In the ensuing confusion brought about by the shootings, those around and at the front of the palace ran helter-skelter for the safety of their lives.

After about 10 minutes of the utter madness, which didn't still disrupt what was going on inside the inner chambers of the palace, the 4 men later escaped towards Molete.

Though everyone escaped unhurt, it was still a total act of foolishness and unnecessary intimidation.

Curiously, the state government and her appointees (some newly crowned kings) and a large number of the Olubadan-in-council on one side and the Olubadan of Ibadan and his own supporters on another side are engaged in a battle of supremacy. So people are now hoping that this act by the 4 men, might not be in direct response towards the Olubadan's stance.

Curiously, the only member of the Olubadan-in-council to have rejected the elevation to a king by the state government, in the person of the former Governor of the state and a PDP stalwart, the OSI Olubadan (left hand man of the king) Chief Rashidi Ladoja was in attendance at the palace, so also was the Bamofin of Ibadan in the person of  Chief Femi Lanlehin when the shooting occurred. 

OONI OF IFE SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED A SIDE IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN OLUBADAN VS. AJIMOBI

By virtue of the revered stool the Oonirisa, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II occupies he is seen and acknowledged as the number 1 monarch amongst all the royal fathers in Yorubaland. So whatever his Imperial majesty does is seen and accepted as the actions of the gods, since he is the official representative of Oduduwa, the acclaimed founding father of the Yoruba race.

Succession towards the very respected Olubadan stool before the recent actions of the Oyo State Government led by Senator Abiola AJIMOBI, used to be very rancour free. There was the clear cut path towards becoming the next Olubadan. So everyone on the line knew where they were and accepted their positions without issues. But the state government then came on board, and felt that the rancour free path though great, was now obsolete and felt they could rejig it by elevating all the chiefs around the royal father also to lesser level crown wearing kings.

That decision was not very welcomed by the Olubadan at all. Who felt and believed that for any elevation to occur, if it should occur at all, should be done by the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-council and then by extension even if there was any reason to review the so called "obsolete succession constitution", it was strictly the purview of the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-council.

But the Government of Oyo State didn't see the whole process in that way, so they did their review, did the gazette and immediately elevated the Chiefs to kings, pitching the newly elevated kings against their ultimate king-the Olubadan Oba Saliu Adetunji. To reverse the so called anomaly, the Olubadan has since instituted a court case.

But while all this drama is on going in the background, Yorubaland's number 1 monarch, the Ooni who should normally not be involved in any type of unneccesary drama that involves the stool of other notable kings, is seen in a picture that has gradually gained traction by the day, in his palace with those newly crowned kings which has been translated as a form of endorsement of those 21 kings and his support of Governor AJIMOBI .

OLUBADAN VS OLUBADAN IN COUNCIL. AND GOVERNOR AJIMOBI'S TRICKY COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

Oba Saliu Adetunji​

Governor of Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi

There's already a growing sense of discord pervading the atmosphere in Ibadan land, in Oyo State, that if care is not taken to especially nip in the bud, might go overboard.

The respected monarch of the town of 7 hills, Oba Saliu Olatunji is already arrayed now against his chiefs better referred to as the Olubadan-in-council.

The bone of contention between the 2 are two-pronged. First the Olubadan-in-council are totally against the dethronement of the present Iyalode of Ibadan, Chief Mrs. Labake Lawal and the subsequent enthronement of another to replace her, in the person of Chief Mrs. Iswat Ameringun.

Their other grouse with the respected monarch who only just very recently celebrated his 1st anniversary on the throne is that their input and advice was totally discarded in the choice of the Olubadan honouring Chief Layiwola Lakojo as the Mayegun of Ibadan. The new Mayegun, a former Secretary to the Government of Oyo,  is a friend and ally of Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria.

The matter if not handled well and quickly could degenerate.

Just as the town is still trying to deal with the situation at hand, the executive Governor of the state in the person of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, might also have added pepper or salt to frayed nerves, by his announcement of a commission of inquiry, whose number 1 mandate is to review the process of choosing the Olubadan.

Though this commission's outcome might not adversely affect the position of the present Olubadan, what might affect him might be the whittling down of his power. Reason for this is because, the commission is also mandated to look the possibility of having more kings (royal fathers/monarch) in the ancient town, having in mind, the present size and population of Ibadan.

One just hopes all of these activities is not akin to seating on a gunpowder keg not too far from a firestorm.

The Olubadan stool has enjoyed one of the most rancour free ascension line, with all the ones to take over successively knowing about it long ahead and waiting patiently. To now rejigg at this time, though if truth be told changes are needed, is to invite chaos and anarchy.