BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN- Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has vowed not to dabble into the controversial issue of the permanent  chairmanship tussle in the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The governor spoke in response to the request made by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, who paid a condolence visit to the governor on the flood disaster that ravaged Ibadan city on 26 August, 2011.

Oba Oyewumi had told the governor to intervene in the council and resolve the disagreement between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on the one hand and  Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana and Soun of Ogbomoso on the other.

The monarch said the  governor should correct all the mistakes by the immediate past administration led by Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala most especially the issue of the traditional council.

But Ajimobi said he considered all the paramount monarchs as fathers to him and believed they would use their wealth of experience as elders to resolve the knotty issue and come up with a resolution which he would be willing to adopt.

If that would not work, Ajimobi said the only option left for him was to wait for the outcome of the litigation which had been filed in court.

It will be recalled that Otunba Akala assented to a bill which nullified permanent chairmanship of the council which Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi was occupying. Immediately the assumption of office of the incumbent governor, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Odulana took over the mantle of chairmanship which would now be rotated among the three monarchs.

Olubadan stated at the maiden meeting of the council that after his tenure expired, it would be the turn of Soun of Ogbomoso.

Vanguard gathered that the governor was advised to steer clear of the issue of chairmanship tussle in the council as it led to the downfall of many governments in the state.

Oba Oyewumi commiserated with the governor and the entire people of the state on the loss of lives and property during the flood disaster that ravaged the city.