BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN — OYO Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs was yesterday embroiled in crisis as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana and the Onipetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran clashed openly.

Trouble started when Olubadan announced his taking over of the chairmanship of the council from Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who was controversially removed by the immediate past governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

This provoked an angry outburst from Oba Sunday Oyediran, said to be a loyalist of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who was not disposed to the meeting led by the Olubadan of Ibadan.

Two Ibadan chiefs, High Chiefs Lekan Balogun and Omowale Kuye defended the Olubadan, condemning what they described as insult from Oba Oyediran.

Throughout the four years tenure of Akala the Olubadan and Soun of Ogbomoso boycotted the council’s meetings because the former Governor Akala recognized the Alaafin as the permanent chairman.

At the commencement of the meeting, Olubadan thanked God for giving them a new governor, “who holds culture and tradition in high esteem. We have to thank God  Almighty for giving us a new governor who upholds culture and tradition. I am the chairman of this council and my tenure of office is four years. After me, it is the turn of Soun of Ogbomoso and then the Alaafin of Oyo if he chooses to come.”

After he spoke, the Onipetu dressed in white flowing agbada entered the meeting venue.

Earlier newsmen were asked to excuse them and as they were going out the  Olubadan ordered that newsmen should be allowed to cover the meeting.

Immediately newsmen entered again, the Onpetu of Ijeru, without seeking the permission of Olubadan to talk, shouted that it was against the rules of the meeting.

But Olubadan insisted that the meeting would be witnessed by newsmen, describing the monarch who opposed his order as an ‘agent of disunity’.

Olubadan said, “As the chairman of this meeting, that is my order. We are not holding any secret meeting here. We want the pressmen to stay. If you are not pleased, walk out”.

The Onpetu replied, “This is not the meeting of Ibadan Obas alone. It is thee meeting of the Obas in Oyo State. There is no autocracy here. It is no longer a meeting if the pressmen are allowed to witness it. After the meeting, we can address the pressmen”.

At this juncture, Senator Balogun stood up and pleaded with the Olubadan to allow the meeting to hold first and later invite the pressmen.
Balogun said, “it is true that newsmen should excuse us and later we will address them. But, you have to say things with courtesy.

Imagine how he is talking to our king. It is rude, unacceptable and unbecoming of a traditional ruler. Kabiyesi, please I beg you in the name of Go, let us excuse the media”.

Also, High Chief Kuye also stressed the need for the council to have a peaceful and orderly meeting saying, “we are incomparable with them in many respects. Kabiyesi, we are not their mates. Since the beginning, we are never their mate. In this world, we will never be their mate. We(Ibadan chiefs) are angry as you are talking to our king in such an insulting manner. You even prepared as if you want to engage him in a boxing bout. Who do you think you are?”

The Onpetu could no longer utter a word.
He sat down speechless with his hands under his chin waiting for the next thing to happen.

At the end, newsmen were told politely to excuse them.