Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has presented the Staff of the Office to 116-year-old Oba Tiamiyu Oladipupo, former Baale of Abanla in Oluyole local government area, and 33 others as Obas in their respective domains.

The newly crowned Obas are drawn from the six local government areas of Ibadanland.

The Elevation and Crowning of the beneficiaries is the sequel to the approval given by Governor Seyi Makinde to the request of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr Lekan Balogu, to elevate and crown the beneficiaries by the State Chieftaincy law.

The ceremony which had in attendance notable dignitaries from all walks of life took place at Oja’ba Palace of Olubadan in Ibadanthe South East local government area on Friday.

Presenting the Staff of Office to the beneficiaries, Governor Makinde, who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Segun Olayiwola, restated his administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for crimes and criminalities, including land grabbing.

Makinde added that as the eyes of the government in their respective domains, they must assist the government in fishing out the criminals in their domains.

According to him, “The perpetrators of heinous crimes are not operating from the moon. They live among us. As traditional rulers, we must fish them out. Our society must be crime-free.

“Also, the issue of land grabbing which is fast becoming a recurrent decimal must be jointly addressed. Government cannot do it all alone. We need your support.

Earlier in his address, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun, thanked the governor for giving approval to his request to elevate the status of some Baales in Ibadanland.

Oba Balogun stated that the elevation of Baales has changed the old narrative of one king presiding over the affairs of Ibadanland.

He said the palace is aware of contentions in the domains of some beneficiaries and attempts to stop the process, but the palace decided to go ahead.

“The palace is aware of contentions in the domains of a few of today’s beneficiaries of the elevation and attempts to stop their elevation by the aggrieved parties acknowledged.

But we decided to go ahead with the elevation of the affected few alongside others because they are not being newly installed as Baales, and should they be denied, it is the affected communities that would suffer the loss.

“We considered it more appropriate to go ahead with the elevation as planned while the aggrieved parties continue with the process of how to ‘right’ the acclaimed ‘wrong’ in installing the affected Baales in the first instance, and I want to publicly assure all that as soon as it is evidentially established that a wrong was committed to installing somebody as a Baale, such stands removed without any pressure.

“As recalled during our last exercise, we have a unique system in our traditional set-up in Ibadan which continues to evolve, responding to dynamics of demand as occasions may dictate and this has been confirming the agelong aphorism that the only thing that is permanent in life is change.

” In our responses to the changes over the years, there had always been issues on forging consensuses as arguments for and against always ensue. Thankfully, the issue of some of our Baales wearing crowns has never been a subject of debate as there’s a consensus on it.

” In short, whatever we are today in Ibadan as far as our traditional system is concerned are products of periodic changes we have passed through and there is no shying away from making this our contribution to the system with the conviction that posterity will record us rightly.

“By today’s exercise, we have completely changed the face of the Ibadan traditional system and we can now rub shoulders with other places in the comity of towns and cities.

It Is gratifying to note that the public opinion on the first leg of the exercise has been that of applause and commendation and we are convinced and happy that by the elevation exercises, including the one we are doing today, we are meeting the yearnings and expectations of our people.

“Once again, the determination of our governor in the state, Engr. Makinde, FNSE in ensuring the making of this history cannot be over-emphasised.

We cannot gloss over the boldness and political will of his predecessor, late Sen. Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi who against all odds broke the jinx which had become a recurring decimal since the advent of the current democratic experience.

May his soul continue to peacefully rest. Whatever flaws noticed in the steps taken by the late former governor Ajimobi on the issue have been corrected by Engr. Makinde, giving us confidence that what we are doing has come to stay.

“The liberalism being brought into the system should not be taken for granted. We all know that there’s a hierarchy in our system and what we are doing does not give room for the traditional hierarchy to be eroded in any manner.

Honour must at all times be given to whom honour is due. I won’t go into repetition of the oath that will be administered on the new Obas after your crowning today, but, the oath must be your guide”

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Ilaji Hotels and Resorts Engr. Dotun Sanusi said the history has been made with the elevation of High Chiefs and Baales to the status of His Royal Majesty and His Royal Highness in Ibadanland.

He said the ancient city of Ibadanland is living up to its status as one of the historical cities in the Country.

Sanusi, therefore, charged the beneficiaries to use their new position for the upliftment of the land.

The hotelier also thanked the Governor for approving the request of Olubadan to elevate the status of some Baales.

The beneficiaries are; Oba Sanity Oyetunde, Oba Samuel Oludele, Oba Arigbabuwo Muniru Adekunle, Oba Adeboye Salako, Oba Adesina Basiru, Oba Victor Okajide Oyedepo, Oba Tairu Ademola Akande and Oba Yekinni Obisesan.

Others are; Oba Nureni Yusuf Adegbenro, Oba Victor Sunday Okunola, Oba Gbokagade Murtala Babalola, Oba Mikali Olanrewaju Adebayo, Oba Raimi Bolarinwa Idowu, Oba Wahab Olabamiji Okedina and Oba Dauda Salami Siba.

The list also includes Oba Dauda Omotoso, Oba Najimdeen Bello, Oba Adebowale Kamorudeen Adeyemi, Oba Musa Obisesan, Oba Mosaderin Muili Oladejo, Oba Richard Olunloyo, Oba Muritala Salami Olumini, and Oba Yekinni Olatunde. (Nigerian Tribune)

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