The royal rumble in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, which has been on for four months, is yet to abate as the city is now being ruled traditionally from two seats of power. Since Governor Abiola Ajimobi installed the new 21 kings on August 27, 2017, the residence of the Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, which is the palace of the Olubada, has ceased to be the meeting venue for the city’s traditional institution.

Mogajis (family heads) have said that Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja will not attend the peace meeting approved by Governor Abiola Ajimobi until the gunmen who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan are apprehended and brought to justice.

THE face-off between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, became obvious yesterday as the traditional ruler shunned the celebration of the country’s 57th  independence anniversary, while other traditional rulers like the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi were in attendance.

IN times past, palaces of kings in Yorubaland were sacred places where social vices were abominable. Apart from the respect attached to the traditional institution, the absolute power of kings was like a doubled-edged sword. There was a belief then that if you desecrate the traditional institution, you are only incurring the wrath of the gods. So, the kings had the power of life and death. Fighting, weeping and other forms of violence were forbidden in these hallowed palaces.

PANIC gripped residents of Popoyemoja area of Ibadan yesterday as four yet-to-be identified gunmen stormed the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji and fired several gunshots  during an installation ceremony of new Baales at the palace.

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condemned the alleged act of brigandage that occurred during a ceremony at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Monday.

IBADAN — THE furore generated by the coronation of 21 new kings in Ibadanland is yet to abate as some Mogajis under the aegis of Council of Mogajis of Ibadanland and Integrity Youths of Ibadanland staged a protest in some parts of the city to show their loyalty to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji who described the beaded crowns on the kings as fake ones. The monarch restated his stance that the new kings should wait for their time.

AS the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, continues to stoutly  oppose  the coronation of 21 new kings in Ibadanland, the monarch has said he would not bless the new Obas who could not wait for their turn to become Olubadan but hurriedly presented themselves for coronation as inferior Obas by the Oyo State Government.

Chief Mukaila Balogun, the Osi-Balogun Afijagba in Oyo State, says the recent elevation and crowning of 21 high chiefs and baales as kings will boost the status of the Olubadan stool.

The way the coronation was done contravened the laid down procedures whenever any king is to be installed. Did the kings go to Ipebi( a secluded room where king-to-be will go through some rituals)? Why did the previous kings not agree? What we are saying is that it is not the business of any government to meddle in the affairs of the traditional institution