Hours after Ajimobi directed Olubadan to stop installation, gunmen struck at palace

A few hours after Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State directed the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to stop the installation of some Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads), gunmen struck at the Popoyemoja Palace of the first class monarch on Monday, shooting sporadically.
Ajimobi had, through the Ministry of Local Government and Christian Matters, sent a circular to the palace, directing the monarch to stop the installation.
The government directive was sequel to a petition signed by the eight High Chiefs who were recently promoted to beaded crown wearing Obas by Ajimobi that Oba Adetunji should not go ahead with the ceremony.
Ibadan residents were shocked when news filtered in that gunshots were fired at the palace.
Four gunmen, who came in a black Toyota Sienna, arrived the palace about 11:45 a.m. and fired several shots at some vehicles of visiting dignitaries.
The Asaju Balogun of Ibadanland who is also former Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Labour Party chieftain, Sharafadeen Alli, and some journalists were among those who escaped death while the shooting lasted.
Alli’s Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number Lagos Epe 447 ER and several others were, however, riddled with bullets in the shooting  which was said to have lasted about 10 minutes.
During the shooting, the newly-constructed drainage of the perimeter fence of Oba Adetunji became the refuge for the affected journalists for close to 15 minutes when the sporadic shooting lasted.
The Olubadan was planning to instal four Baales whose applications were said to have been pending for years.
The Baales are: Baale Lagelu Aboke Village, Chief Sayeed Aderemi Alatise; Baale Ode Village, Ido Local Government, Tajudeen Oladejo Baba Ode; Baale Adigun Village, Ona-Ara Local Government, Tate Makinde Aikomo and Baale Ojedeji Ojo Aro Town, Akinyele Local Government, Pa Ezekiel Akinboade Ojedeji.
Olubadan had dragged Governor Abiola Ajimobi to court over the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chietaincy Law and government’s subsequent coronation of 21 high chiefs and Baales.
There has been no love lost between the monarch and the governor, following the August 27 enthronement of eight members of the Olubadan-in-Council and some Baales to beaded-wearing crown status thus changing centuries of Ibadan history which had for long enjoyed unique ascension to the stool of Olubadan, being the only crown-wearing monarch in the city.
On Monday, the stage was set and some of the dignitaries were already arriving at the palace when the gunmen came calling.
Few hours to the ceremony, the State Government had directing the monarch to stop the installation.
A letter signed by Oba Lekan Balogun,  the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland,  and titled: “Notice on illegal appointment and installation of Baales and Mogajis, queried why the Olubadan unilaterally concluded arrangements on the ceremony without any meeting of the Obas in Council to determine the suitability or otherwise of such persons.
And subsequently, the State Government, through a letter signed by the Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary,  Z. O. Jaiyeola, directed to inform “your Imperial Majesty to immediately cease and desist from going ahead with the installation of the said Chiefs.”
Already, the  Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Femi Lanlehin, and some Mogajis; Olawale Oladoja, Abass Oloko, AbdulJelil Adanla and Mogaji Akere were seated while the palace was expecting the Iyalode, Alhaja Aminat Abiodun, who later arrived to give the needed support to the monarch.
But the gunmen who drove in the two vehicles stormed the palace, shooting and shouting in Yoruba language “koni da fun iyalaya yin, eyin were e jade” (it shall not be well with you all, you mad people, come out).
The development led to people scampering for safety. People outside the palace who came to witness the ceremony and residents ran for dear lives as the hoodlums had free day shooting sporadically.
The affected journalists who were billed to cover the installation of the Baales rolled over themselves inside the gutter in front of the palace.
While the attack lasted, jubilant family members and residents of the area who were catching fun of the ceremony scampered for safety.
Bullets marks were seen in the surrounding households as two other vehicles parked on the road had their screens shattered by the bullets.
The gunmen, who fired severally, reloaded their ammunition as reporters watched them from the gutters.
Cartridges littered the ground before policemen later cordoned off the streets and provided security cover for the event which eventually held under tight security. Some of the journalists were all drenched in the stinking water and mud.
After the shooting, Alli was full of gratitude to God for sparing his life.
He said: “This is not good for our society but we thank God the story is not beyond what we are saying now. You can see my car over there”.
Ladoja appealed for calm, warning that violence should not be employed to settle scores.
He then appealed to whoever that is aggrieved to seek redress in a competent court of law, but noted that there is no fear on the life of Olubadan because of the incident.
Ladoja said: “Hoodlums that invaded the palace were engineered by some people. I don’t understand why some people refuse to follow the normal procedure. If you think that something is wrong because I saw the advertisement in the paper today whereby they are challenging the powers of Olubadan to instal new Baales, then go to court.
“If they feel bad about it, they should go to court and not start creating fears in the mind of the people. There is no one that has got flexibility of violence, but we normally prefer to do our things in the legal way. They should go to court if they think what Olubadan is doing is illegal.
“Let me remind you that Olubadan in Council is an advisory body to the Olubadan. If you are to advise somebody, he has a right to accept or to reject it. So, I don’t understand why people cannot just follow a simple decorum. So, I don’t understand why people should take laws into their hands and send hoodlums to the palace.
“ I want to assure our people that the palace is safe because just look at the number of people outside, are they going to kill them? They didn’t even wait when they came, they are only out to scare people. They know that Olubadan is loved by the people of Ibadanland and if they are revolting against the Olubadan, that is their headache, they can go to court.
The Spokesman of Authentic Ibadan Mogajis,  Chief Wale Oladoja, had earlier in the day told reporters that the ceremony was holding at the Olubadan Palace following rumours that the state government had sent circulars to the palace to stop the installation of new Chiefs.
The State Police Commissioner, Abiodun Odude, confirmed the incident, saying it was being investigated.
He also said no arrest had been made.