Chief Saliu Adetunji, Fuji Music promoter who discovered Kwam1 and Malaika is in real battle with the Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Cheif Adebayo Oyediji for the throne of next Olubadan of
Oyo State.
The age-long smooth ascension to the throne of the
Olubadan of Ibadanland appears to be under threat as a
two top Ibadan chiefs have laid claim to the coveted throne.
While the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji,
as the next in rank to the late Olubadan, anticipates his
installation as the next Olubadan, the Otun Seriki of Ibadan,
Chief Adebayo Oyediji, says he is the ‘‘next Olubadan’’.
Oyediji warned the kingmakers, the Olubadan-in-Council,
not to flout what he called a 1989 ruling of the Supreme
Court by installing Adetunji as successor to the late Oba
Samuel Odulana Odugade, who died on Tuesday at the age
of 101 years.
Ibadan is reputed to be a major Yoruba city, where
succession to the throne of the city’s traditional stool is
rancour-free as the ascension to the throne is through
seniority.
Before the demise of Oba Odugade on Tuesday, the late
monarch elevated Adetunji and other high chiefs in Ibadan
with Adetunji becoming the Balogun of Ibadanland.
The position, according to the Olubadan succession system,
qualifies him as the next Olubadan when the incumbent
passes away.
But while dignitaries and indigenes were mourning at the
late Oba Odugade’s palace on Wednesday, there was
celebration at the Alusekere family compound of Adetunji in
the Popoyemoja area of Ibadan.
Our correspondent, who visited the family, observed that
many well-wishers trooped to the compound to felicitate
with Adetunji, who many believed would be named as Oba
Odugade’s successor.
Hundreds of youths started an early party in the High
Chief’s home, treating themselves to loud music while
another sound system was being mounted at the entrance
to the compound before our correspondent left the area on
Wednesday.
Adetunji, 87, who is a prominent music promoter and owner
of Babalaje Record Company, told our correspondent that
the late Olubadan contributed greatly to the development of
Ibadanland during his reign.
“Tradition and Ibadan royal succession system demand that
since I am next to the late monarch, I should be the next
Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“I pray that God will grant the late king a good rest. He was
a wonderful person who we all loved. Ibadan people and
visitors among us should expect good things from God in
my time. Our economy will improve and peace will reign in
my time,” he added.
He promised to strengthen the existing peace in Ibadan,
stressing that the city would witness economic boom during
his reign as the Olubadan.
Adetunji became the Mogaji (Head) of his family in 1976,
reaching the top 40 years later.
Until October, 2015, he was the Otun Balogun of
Ibadanland.
In October 2015, the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief
Sulaimon Omiyale, who, until his death, was the next in line
to the throne of the Olubadan, died at the age of 91.
But Oyediji, 89, alleged that the Olubadan-in-Council
disregarded the rule of law in the succession process.
Speaking in Ibadan on Wednesday, Oyediji said, “I am the
next to be installed (the) Olubadan and not Adetunji.”
Justifying his claim, Oyediji said a motion filed on behalf of
the Seriki family by his lawyer, A.G. Adeniran, before the
Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Mukthar Abimbola, stated
that his family had obtained a Supreme Court judgment,
which favours their admittance into the Olubadan ruling
line.
He alleged that since 1989 when the judgment was
obtained, the Olubadan-in-Council had refused to respect it.
Oyediji claimed that the last Otun Seriki, who was a
National Chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria,
the late Chief Adisa Akinloye, was denied the opportunity to
become the Olubadan before he died in 2007, claiming that
the Seriki family was the third line in the Olubadan
succession system.
He added, “The problem with the Seriki line started with the
1959 Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration,
which places the Seriki under the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan
and provides, for the first time, that the Seriki can only be
promoted to Ekerin Balogun only if there are two
simultaneous vacancies occurring in the Ashipa and Ekerin
Balogun titles.”
Oyediji said the motion was also seeking the order of the
court, setting aside the appointments made by the late
Olubadan to fill vacancies existing in the chieftaincy titles of
Ekerin Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Otun
Olubadan and Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan from November
21, 2008, to the last appointments made on January 1,
2016.
According to him, one of the motions would be heard on
January 28, 2016.