IBADAN CHIEFTAINCY DECLARATION & OTHER RELATED CHIEFTAINCES IN IBADANLAND – MATTERS ARISING
Pursuant to the Government White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on the Review of the Existing Olubadan of Ibadan Declaration and Other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland, published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on 23rd August, 2017 and the Amended Declaration on Regulating the Selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincy and Related matters as published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol. 42 by Authority in Ibadan on 24th August, 2017, the Oyo State Government hereby provides as a matter of duty, further insights and highlights on developments.
BACKGROUND
The recent review of the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration made pursuant to the 1957 Chiefs Laws and other related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland, by the Oyo State Government led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi is not a peculiar or unusual one. The following facts are on record.
(i) The Military Government of Western States instituted a Commission of Enquiry to review the Chieftaincy declaration in 1974. The recommendations of the Commission were adopted and changes effected.
(ii) In 1981, the military government of Oyo State accepted and effected changes based on the recommendations of the ADENEKAN ADEMOLA JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY of 1976.
(iii) The OLOKO COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY was set up on April 1st 1993 by Governor Kolapo Ishola to review Chieftaincy Declarations across the state. The recommendations were accepted by Governor Lam Adesina. Upon becoming Governor, Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja suspended the white paper and ultimately the recommendations of the OLOKO COMMISSION were abrogated by him.
(iv) The ADIO COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY was set up by Governor Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, but its recommendations did not see the light of day.
(V) Upon assuming duties as the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, received numerous requests from various quarters including majority of the High Chiefs who are members of the Olubadan – in - Council for the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration. Like his predecessors in office, Governor Abiola Ajimobi engaged the extant laws from sections 10 and 25 CAP 28 of the OYO STATE CHIEFTAINCY LAW 2000 Section 10 of the Chiefs law which gives a discretionary power to the Governor of the state if satisfied that a Declaration is faulty or objectionable, to amend or replace such declaration. That power is exercisable only by the governor without necessarily being in consultation with anybody. He may require the Chieftaincy committee to amend the declaration if he is SATISFIED that a registered declaration:
Does not contain a true or sufficiently clear statement of the customary law regulating the chieftaincy in question or
Does not contain sufficient description of the method of selection of the holder of the chieftaincy or
It contains error as to form or substance or‎
It is defective, faulty, or objectionable.

Section 25(1) gives power to the Governor to set up an enquiry which he may consider necessary or desirable for any of the purposes of part 2 or 3 of the law, which includes the power to make, review or amend a declaration. It is under this provision the Governor exercised this statutory power by setting up the Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into the issues stated in order to be satisfied (as required by section 10) as to whether or what to review in the extant declaration.

In deference to the wishes of the people of Ibadanland, especially the traditional
chiefs, Governor Abiola Ajimobi set up the Justice O. A Boade COMMISSION OF
ENQUIRY. The Judicial Commission of Enquiry was constituted to review the Olubadan
Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959 made pursuant to the 1957 Chiefs Laws, and other
related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland in line with the current reality of chieftaincies of
equal status across the Yorubaland in general on 9th May, 2017. The Commission
submitted a-three volume report at the Executive Council Chamber, Treasury Building,
Secretariat, Ibadan on Friday, 19th August, 2017.

Highlights of the White Paper and Government’s decision are as follows:


Commission’s Recommendation 4:
The retention of the rotational system of the Olubadan chieftaincy and also the retention of the Olubadan Line and the Balogun Line as the two lines to produce the Olubadan in rotation. But the people also want the 22 rungs on Olubadan Line and the 23 rungs on Balogun Line to be reduced so that the Olubadan in future would become Olubadan at a relatively younger age so as to be active in office and have longer tenure in office.
Government accepts this recommendation with a proviso that the Olubadan Line is now Otun Olubadan Line.

Commission’s Recommendation 5:
There should be 11 steps on Olubadan line and 12 steps on Balogun line to begin from Ikolaba title on both lines.
Government accepts this recommendation.
Commission’s Recommendation 8:
The eleven (11) High Chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-in-Council for approval as Beaded Crown/Coronet wearing Obas, namely,
1. Otun Olubadan 1. Balogun
2. Osi Olubadan 2. Otun Balogun
3. Ashipa Olubadan 3. Osi Balogun
4. Ekerin Olubadan 4. Ashipa Balogun
5. Ekarun Olubadan 5. Ekerin Balogun
6. Ekarun Balogun
Government accepts this recommendation
with a proviso that only a Beaded Crown Oba shall be eligible to become the Olubadan and that these eleven (11) Beaded Crown Obas in addition to Iyalode shall be the kingmakers of Olubadanland. Government holds that:
“no person shall be qualified to be a candidate for a recognized chieftaincy who:
(a) suffers from serious physical infirmity; or
(b) has, under any law in force in Nigeria, been found or declared to be a lunatic or adjudged to be of unsound mind; or
(c) has, in any part of the Commonwealth:
(i) been sentenced to death or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years; or
(ii) been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty and sentenced to imprisonment therefore, and has not been granted a free pardon”.
(Section 14(2) of the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State 2000)

Commission’s Recommendation 9:
The High Chiefs should retain their titles of Otun Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Balogun, Otun Balogun etc. and should not use the title of “Oba” as a prefix to their names in order to avoid any confusion that could be caused by using the title “Oba” in conjunction with their titles of Otun Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Balogun, Otun Balogun etc.
Government rejects this recommendation.
Each of the eleven (11) High Chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council shall become a Beaded Crown-wearing Oba and shall be addressed as “His Royal Majesty” with the prefix ‘Oba’ before his name in conjunction with his respective title e.g. HRM Oba……..Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Commission’s Recommendation 10:
The Olubadan should be addressed as “His Imperial Majesty”, the High Chiefs should be addressed as “His Royal Majesty” to maintain their seniority over the Baales that would eventually be recommended for wearing of Beaded Crowns or coronets and would be addressed as “His Royal Highness”. The area of assignment of the High Chiefs would be the existing eleven (11) Local Government Traditional Councils.
Government accepts this recommendation.
.Commission’s Recommendation 12:
All Senior Chiefs, who are customarily senior to various Baales in Ibadanland, should be upgraded to Recognised Chiefs under Part II of the Chiefs Law in order to maintain the customarily cherished seniority of the Senior Chiefs over the various Baales who are already recognized under Part II of the Chiefs Law, including ancient Baales. We are of the view that upgrading Senior Chiefs to Recognized Chiefs under Part II of the Chiefs Law will enhance their positions and restore their cherished dignity and superiority over the Baales.
Government accepts this recommendation.
Commission’s Recommendation 99:
Having regard to the information available to us, the Obas in other parts of Yorubaland were granted approval to wear Beaded Crowns, and in order not to make new Obas in Ibadanland inferior to their counterparts in Yorubaland, we hereby recommend approval of wearing of Beaded Crowns for the Baales who have been recommended for elevation as Obas in Ibadanland.
Government accepts this recommendation.
Commission’s Recommendation 100:
No newly elevated Oba shall add “land” to the name of his domain in his title because the “Olu” title is exclusively reserved for the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Government accepts this recommendation, and further notes that the suffix “land” is exclusively reserved for the Olubadan as in Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Commission’s Recommendations 101:
(i) The Olubadan should be retained as Consenting and Prescribed Authorities for Ibadanland;
(ii) Any Oba in Ibadanland who shows disregard or disrespect to the position or authority of the Olubadan through refusal to pay necessary customary obeisance and flouting of superior customary authority shall be investigated by a Committee of Traditional Chiefs and appropriate sanction will be recommended against any guilty offender. A very serious infraction of the tradition can be reported to the State Governor through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters;
The new Royal Majesties in Ibadanland who have received their letter of conferment and their titles are as follows:
1. HRM Oba Senator Lekan Balogun - The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland
2. HRM Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin - The Balogun of Ibadanland
3. HRM Oba Tajudeen A. Ajibola - The Osi Balogun of Ibadanland
4. HRM Oba Eddy Oyewole - The Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland
5. HRM Oba Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe - The Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland
6. HRM Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi - The Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland
7. HRM Oba (Dr.) Kolawole Adegbola - The Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland
8. HRM Oba S. Amidu Ajibade - The Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland

The new ROYAL HIGHNESSES who have received their letters of conferment are as follows:
HRH Chief Lasisi Akano - Onijaye of Ijaye
HRH Oba Ismaila Abioye Olasunkanmi Opeola - Oniroko of Iroko
HRH Oba Moses Olasunkanmi Akinyosoye - Onikereku of Ikereku
HRH Oba Mudasiru Omodele Adebayo - Ololodo of Olodo
HRH Oba Victor Sunday Okunola - Elegbeda of Egbeda
HRH Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola - Onido of Ido
HRH Oba Olabamiji Ahmed Thomas - Alakufo of Akufo
HRH Oba (Alhaji) Wahab Olabamiji Okedina - Oloke of Okelade-Okin
HRH Oba Dauda Omotoso - Alawotan of Awotan
HRH Oba Adeboye Oyelowo Salako - Olofa of Offa
HRH Oba Rafiu Alawusa - Onilagun of Lagun
HRH Oba Tiamiyu Labiyi Ladipo - Alaba of Aba-Nla
HRH Oba James Oladipo Obisesan - Alakanran of Akanran

Signed,
Alhaji Olalekan Alli
Secretary to the Oyo State Government

The Government White Paper No. 14, Vol. 42 is available at the Oyo State Government Press, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.

(

hmmmmmmmmmmm

to what end?

OK for them