Olubadan: It is a shame Ajimobi has turned Ibadan chieftaincy matter to a political rally

Against the background of the planned coronation of some chiefs in Ibadan as kings on Sunday by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has accused the governor of turning a chieftaincy matter to a political rally.
The event will hold at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
He also accused the governor of being inhuman by vowing to go ahead with the coronation when the Otun Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa, died just two days ago.
Since Friday, some aides of the governors have been sending text messages to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mobilise people for the event.
The Olubadan said on Saturday: “As the father of Ibadan indigenes, irrespective of political and ideological persuasion, I cannot attend an occasion where local government executives of one political party have been sending text messages to party members in Ibadanland to mobilise for the event as if it is a political rally”.
The Olubadan maintained that he has no hand in the proposed coronation of High Chiefs (to be known as High Royal Majesty and His Royal Highness) by Ajimobi.
Ajimobi had on Friday presented letters of conferment of Obaship titles to 30 of the 32 chiefs recommended by the Justice Akintunde Boade (rtd)-led Judicial Panel of Enquiry on the review of 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
The Boade-led panel had on August 18 submitted its report, recommending 11 Olubadan High Chiefs and 21 Baales to wear beaded crown in Ibadan.
Olubadan had kicked against the review, saying he was not in support of it.
In a statement on Saturday by Mr Adeola Oloko, Director, Media and Public Affairs to Olubadan, Oba Adetunji said it was wrong, unethical and illegal for his name to be bandied around in some quarters as the father of the day at the occasion which does not enjoy his blessing.
“I have said it for the umpteenth time that I am opposed to the chieftaincy review and its recommendations as the process for such exercise has not been followed.
“Therefore, as being advertised in some media houses, l cannot see how, I could possibly play a fatherly role in an exercise that I have not endorsed”.
The monarch said he considered any conferment of crowns on anybody as an exercise in futility until otherwise reversed.
Adetunji said that it was going to be contemptuous for anybody to attend that programme as there are two suits that are yet to be determined before the court.
“Where is the humanity of the organisers of the programme when Ibadanland is still mourning the passage of the Otun Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa, who was one of them until August 24,” he said.