By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—Eminent Nigerians at a symposium organised in honour of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana have called for reforms of Ibadan’s chieftancy system to give room for youths to emerge as monarch of the populous city.

They said this at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, where the programme was held yesterday.

Among those that spoke at a well attended programme include the former Governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Chief Adeoye Oyebola, former Managing Director of defunct Daily Times Newspaper , first Professor of Medicine in Nigeria, Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, Secretary to the state Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli and many others.

Chief Oyebola, who spoke on the topic, “Ibadan Chieftaincy Traditional Imperatives for reform advised that youths within 35-45 years should be the target for Mogaji titles across Ibadanland.

He said, “Anything we must do to begin to take younger people as mogaji’s must be done so that younger person can emerge Olubadan someday. I suggest the Olubadan-in-council should call a meeting of Baale’s to nominate educated, successful and younger people from their families to become the Mogaji’s. What do you want to do with old mogaji’s without means of livelihood and survival?”,

He lamented that there was no sense in people waiting for so long to become an Olubadan only for such to die after few years.”

Also calling for review of the traditional hierarchy, Dr. Olunloyo, said indeed something must be done to streamline the lines and reduce the succession steps to the throne.

Contrary to popular belief that the chieftaincy hierarchy was rancour-free, the former governor clarified that succession to the Olubadan throne was not always rancour-free.

In his own contribution, Oloye Lekan Alabi, Aare Alaasa of Ibadanland, highlighted factors that distinguished   Ibadan system unique was that promotion in the royal succession is not by examination, litigation or calculation but simply just by destiny.