By Ola Ajayi
LAST week’s alleged endorsement of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State for re-election by Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief S.A. Omiyale has created cracks in the ever-united Olubadan-in-Council chaired by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana.

The unilateral comment by the prominent member of the highest traditional council in the city was read repeatedly by the State Broadcasting Corporation(BCOS) on both radio and television.

The reports said owing to Governor Akala’s unparalleled achievements in the state, he deserved to be supported for another four years.

But, angered by the statement, the monarch summoned an emergency meeting Monday where the statement credited to the high chief was disowned by the council.

During the meeting which held under closed door, the chief reportedly faced serious difficulty in convincing the council that he was quoted out of context by the broadcast station.

Having initially warned all the high chiefs against involving in partisan politics, the monarch was said to have fumed over the statement and at the end of the meeting, the council agreed that the council should issue a communiqué distancing itself from the statement.

According to the communiqué “the council dissociates itself from the radio statement credited to High Chief S.A. Omiyale, the Balogun of Ibadanland, and therefore regards the statement as an expression of his personal opinion.”

The council and Governor Alao-Akala have been keeping each other at arm’s length since the governor was sworn in on May, 2007. The denial of the statement may further worsen the frosty relationship between the council and the governor.

Present at the meeting called by Olubadan were Senator Lekan Balogun (Osi-Olubadan), Oyeleke Ajani (Otun Balogun), Raimi Amoo Raji (Asipa Olubadan), R.Alarape Busari (Asipa Balogun), Aminat Abiodun (Iyalode), Owolabi Olakulehin (Ekerin Balogun), Eddy Oyewole (Ekarun Olubadan) and O.Olaifa (Ekarun Balogun).