The crisis in Ibadan royalty has reached the peak as 21 Ibadan kings installed recently by the Oyo state government have recommended the removal of the original Ibadan Monarch.
The monarch, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, was installed in March 2016.
The authority of the throne is being threatened by the 21 chiefs installed as kings in Ibadan by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state.
The enthronement of 21 Obas has continued to generate controversy and had pitted Olubadan against the governor.
Oba Saliu Adetunji, 87, presented with the staff of office as the 41st Olubadan of the ancient city, sees the installation of the kings as a challenge to his authority.
The rival 21 kings have ganged up in the fight to wrestle or share power from the Olubadan and as the crisis raged, they have recommended to governor to dethrone the monarch.
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But the Oba has described the 21 kings as entertainers of the year, even as he said they lacked the powers to unseat him.
The Director of Media and Public Affairs to the Olubadan, Mr Adeola Oloko, said in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan said the Oba-in-Council was unknown to Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws.
He wondered how a group of educated individuals, as the embattled obas, could resort to what it called an illegality by commenting on a matter already in court.
Hearing continues tomorrow at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan in a suit filed by the Olubadan against the government on the controversial chieftaincy review.
Oba Adetunji, who has pleaded with the court to take judicious notice of the defendants’ persistent contempt of court in the matter, averred that if a scapegoat is not made of at least one or two culprits, there will be no end to the offence.
On the issue by the Oba-in-Council, the Olubadan said the council, comprising high chiefs and Olubadan only, is only an advisory body with no force of law, customs and traditions backing it.
“In the same vein, the baales, who the embattled high chiefs have added to themselves to become 21, are not members of Olubadan-in-Council and, therefore, should not be dressed in borrowed robe as they have no power whatsoever over their lord.”
