Two weeks ago, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State undertook what was widely classified as stirring the hornet’s nest. He sent shock waves across a culturally sensitive Yorubaland through a single action which might have been taken abrasively or without due contemplation.
The governor, in one fell swoop, proclaimed elevation for 21 Ibadan senior chiefs and Baales (native heads) respectively, amid pomp and ceremony. And on the occasion, he laboriously took time to explain off the logic in what some have called his newfound cultural renaissance.
Speaking at legendary Mapo Hall, Ibadan, venue of the chieftaincy ceremony, Ajimobi, the sole kingmaker, said his action should not be misconstrued as whittling down the powers of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji. The governor said he followed due process.
While it is true that the Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement has been largely criticised as gerontocratic and stiff, a more inclusive and decent method of achieving amendments would have been undertaken by the governor, as against his clearly autocratic action of two weeks ago
In presenting staffs of office to the “new kings”, Ajimobi said thenceforth, the Olubadan would be addressed as ‘His Imperial Majesty’, while Olubadan’s senior chiefs promoted as Oba would now go with the deference of ‘His Royal Majesty.’ As for the Baales who are now kings too, they will be addressed as ‘Your Royal Highness.’
Speaking on the occasion, Ajimobi struck a sensitive chord in his rendition, when he said, “history is being made today.”
The governor further made a shrewd attempt at justifying his action, which has volatile implications in the following fashion: “I wish to state categorically that we are not changing history, we are not changing tradition, we are not changing the culture of Ibadan land; rather, we are elevating and consolidating our traditional institution, the exalted position of the Olubadan of Ibadan as the Imperial Majesty in Ibadanland, the Olubadan-in-Council and the chieftaincy institution without tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure.”
He explained that Oyo State had engaged in reviewing the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, made pursuant to the 1957 Chiefs Laws and other related chieftaincies in Ibadan land, to arrive at its
decision.
While Ajimobi stands applauded for embarking on moves aimed at elevating the Yoruba traditional institution, using the Ibadan chieftaincy platform as bedrock, his bullish dimension to it and the fact that laid down procedures and regulations had been set aside, are condemnable.
It is even more grotesque, upon reflection on the fact that Ajimobi, a bona fide indigene of Ibadan, should know the creed for his native tradition and give utmost respect to same. It is the lore of the palace in Yorubaland that only one monarch can exist, whereas you can have as many chiefs as can be permitted. All the senior chiefs who deferred to the palace of the Olubadan and gave reports to the Oba on affairs in their various domains, have now been made monarchs by the governor, and may, as such, choose to isolate the Olubadan’s palace.
Again, the succession streak to the throne of the Olubadan, which is hardly disputed, based on its unique line-up method, is now prone to alterations, as under the governor’s new law, all the senior chiefs, who had gained promotion as Oba, are equal, as they bear the same courtesy.
Under the Ibadan native arrangement, it is not so, as each chief gains promotion upon the passage of an Olubadan or of a chief ahead of him.
Clearly, Ajimobi, by his action, has laid the foundation for future chaos in the succession mode to the position of Olubadan of Ibadan.
Also crucial to the governor’s controversial action is the clear indication that he acted in indiscretion, having failed to consult widely and carry the Olubadan along. The monarch must have been piqued by this clear affront in his refusal to attend the ceremony. Even, a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, the Osi Olubadan, who was a beneficiary of the governor’s elevation, shunned the ceremony, having weighed the foreboding of being herded to stand tradition on
the face.
Again, the governor, in justifying his action by citing efforts of previous administrations to review the 1959 Oyo Chieftaincy Laws, made no reference to any White Paper pursuant to the sitting of any Chieftaincy Panel, to grant fillip to his action.
Viewed critically, it would seem that the governor had given vent to local paranoia, yielding his exalted office to please private interests at the expense of the larger community. While it is true that the Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement has been largely criticised as gerontocratic and stiff, a more inclusive and decent method of achieving amendments would have been undertaken by the governor, as against his clearly autocratic action of two weeks ago.
Ajimobi can still make amends, if he toes the line of “the real due process”, by returning to the status quo ante, predating his jamboree of sole installation of ‘kings’. He should empanel a body of reputable jurors, to review the Oyo chieftaincy laws. That may be the honourable path to toe.
