Family of contender jubilates, as another goes to court

By Gbenga Olarinoye, Ola Ajayi, Emman Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Olasunkanmi Akoni

IT was a mixture of joy and sadness in Ibadan, yesterday, as the ancient city came to terms with the death of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, who passed away Tuesday night.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara; Governor Akinwumi Ambode and Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu described the death of the Ibadan monarch as a rude shock.

This came as more revelation about his death was disclosed.

How monarch died

It was learnt that the monarch died in his sleep.

While members of the family  of the deceased traditional ruler and other sympathisers were mourning the loss of Oba Odulana, the family members and well-wishers of High Chief Saliu Adetunji, a likely successor were wining and dining at his Popo Yemoja residence.

When Vanguard visited Popo Yemoja, the environment was agog as youths were seen dancing and chanting that it is their turn to become the next Olubadan.

Some miscreants also capitalised on the joy that pervaded the atmosphere as they smoked Indian hemp unhindered.

 87-yr-old Balogun, a likely successor

IBADAN HIGH CHIEFS MOURN OLUBADAN: From left; Eldest son of the Late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Prince Femi Odulana, with High Chiefs of Ibadanland during their condolence visit to mourn the Late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade at his palace in Ibadan. Photo by Dare Fasube.

In line with tradition, the current Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Saliu Adetunji, aged 87, is expected to ascend the throne.

At the Monatan residence of late Olubadan, sympathisers came in droves to pay their last respects to the dead king.

All the chiefs  in Ibadanland were conspicuous as they gathered to discuss the demise of the monarch.

The chiefs present at the palace include Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High  Chief Eddy Oyewole; Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun and Chief Lateef Oyelade, Aare Musulumi of Ibadan , Chief Adebayo Oyero, former President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes; his successor, Chief Wale Akinwande  and Sheikh Abdul-Ganiy Abubakry, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.

Vanguard reliably gathered that unlike in the past when there was smooth  transition, the Seriki Family was said to have been fighting frantically for the Olubadan stool claiming that it is their turn.

Ooni of Ife mourns

Describing the demise of the Olubadan, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi noted that the late Olubadan left this world when the entire Yoruba race needed him the most, “especially now that the long over due unification of the Yoruba traditional rulers and the race in general is gradually gaining momentum.”

Ooni Ogunwusi, in a statement by Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, stated that “the departed Olubadan has indeed secured God’s heart while on earth for he lived substantial part of his life serving the good people of Ibadan, Yoruba land, Oodua race, Nigeria and humanity in general.”

“As a public servant, Ibadan traditional chief, Yoruba leader of thought and finally as the revered    king of Ibadan which remains a pride of House of Oduduwa, Oba Odulana was exemplary and he distinctly raised the bar of good leadership among his subjects.”

His death, a loss to Ibadan — Dogara

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, expressed sadness over the passing on of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

Dogara in  a press statement signed by his special adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja yesterday extended his condolences to the family of the late king, the people of   Ibadan and Oyo State.

Olubadan, an accomplished Nigerian — Ambode

Also,  the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode  described the late Olubadan as a well accomplished Nigerian, who cut his teeth in various positions of office he occupied during his hay days.

Ambode, in a condolence message through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, expressed his heartfelt commiserations to the people of Ibadan and Oyo State Government over the death.

According to the governor, “Oba Odulana was an accomplished Nigerian in the true sense of the word.”

“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, I wish to express our heartfelt condolence to the people of Oyo State, especially the people of Ibadan over the death of this highly respected monarch. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” the governor prayed.

Communication minister rues death

Also commiserating with family of the late monarch,  the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu said though the monarch was ripe in age, his death was a bit shocking.

In a statement through his Special Assistant on Media, Victor Oluwadamilare, the Minister said the monarch ascended the throne on August 17, 2007 at the age of 93.

He described the late monarch as an epitome of honesty, decency and a good symbol of Yoruba culture and tradition who lived an unblemished life.

 UI VC mourns

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka said,  “right from the beginning of the institution,   he showed tremendous interest in the activities   of the institution and will remain   one of the towering figures in the history of the University of Ibadan”, the VC stated.

 Seriki line faults choice of next Olubadan

Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji.

Meanwhile, controversy seems to trail the choice of the next Olubadan as the leader of  Seriki line, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, has accused the Olubadan-in -Council of corruption and not adhering strictly to the rule of law.

While taking exception to preparation to choose  High Chief  Soliu Adetunji as the new Olubadan, he argued that he should be installed.

Making reference to a motion filed on his behalf by his lawyer, A.G. Adeniran in an Oyo state High court, he alleged that the Olubadan -in-Council had since 1989 refused to obey a Supreme Court judgment which ordered that the Seriki line be admitted into the Olubadan line.

Alleging marginalisation of the Seriki Line since the death of Chief Adisa Meredith Akinloye who was also denied the opportunity, he wondered why the Olubadan in Council denied his line of becoming the third line in the chieftaincy of Olubadan according to the Supreme Court judgment.

Going down memory lane, Oyediji alluded to the genesis of the problem which he said dates back to 1959 Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration which put  Seriki under the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan and stated that Seriki can only be promoted to Ekerin Balogun only if there are two simultaneous vacancies occuring in the Ashipa and Ekerin Balogun titles.

Based on the victory his line got, the then Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Oloyede Asanike and all the Chiefs prevailed on the Seriki chiefs not to insist on three lines for the Olubadan chieftaincy, but that rather chiefs in the Seriki line should cross to Ekerin Balogun and Ekerin Olubadan on the two lines whenever there is a vacancy in any of the two lines.

But now that High Chiefs, Omiyale and Omowale Kuye died on both sides of the Balogun and Otun Olubadan, he insisted that nothing should rob them of that opportunity again.

“When the agreement was reached, the late Odulana was the only senior ranking High Chief in the Olubadan line and we were in the same rank. If that agreement is followed, I am the next person to succeed him.

In a new motion marked I/421/07, he sought a declaration that “by the provision of the consent judgment delivered by the High Court in suit No. I/313/88, it is the turn of the claimants to produce the next Olubadan of Ibadan on both the Olubadan line and the Balogun line.”

He also prayed the court to “set aside the purported appointments made by the 1st defendant (Oba Odulana) to fill vacancies existing in the chieftaincy titles of Ekerin Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Otun Olubadan and Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan since the 21st of November, 2008 up till the last appointment he made on the 1st of January, 2016”.

Also that the court should “set aside the purported approval granted by the Governor of Oyo state on the 5th of January, 2016 or thereabout to the appointments made by the 1st defendant on the 1st of January, 2016 to fill vacancies existing in the chieftaincy titles.”