King’s Men in Ibadan Applaud Yoruba Obas for Solidarity with Olubadan

• Declare seven days of fasting and prayers

By Ademola Babalola in Ibadan

Ibadan intellectuals and sociocultural group otherwise known as Ibadan king’s men (Egbe Bobajiro) has applauded the concern shown by spectrum of Yoruba Obas to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, in his spirited efforts to resist the recent unprecedented enthronement and elevation of 21 kings in a day in Ibadan by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

The group in a statement in Ibadan signed by former acting Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) who doubles as the convener, Olatunji Oladejo, and the Secretary, Dr. Adams Akewula, yesterday decried the governor’s efforts at changing the cherished traditional values of Ibadan, describing it as “misguided approach to desecrate the most globally acknowledged republican and democratic ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan.”

 The Ibadan King’s men also warned the current leadership of the CCII to desist forthwith from giving ‘’blanket support for the unsolicited gesture of more Obas in Ibadanland,” regretting that “the development did not only come to us as a surprise but also negates all our known customs and age-long tradition of this great land of honour for centuries.”

Wondering why such undue interference was not meted out to the Queen of England by the English people considered as advanced in democracy and all human development index, the group chastised the state government for unduly dabbling into matter that had historical antecedent devoid of bickering and unnecessary rancour in Yoruba land and by extension, the monarchical arrangements globally.

While thanking the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrashid Akanbi, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, and other eminent Nigerians, including the newly appointed Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, for publicly identifying with Olubadan in these trying times, the Ibadan King’s men also commended the Council of Ibadan Authentic Mogajis for its avowed commitment to join forces with well-meaning Ibadan indigenes at home and abroad in safeguarding “our heritage”.

Describing the recent reports that some executive members of Ibadan Mogajis had been warned by some faceless individuals to desist from going to the palace of Olubadan at Popoyemoja as the height of absurdity, the group called on the Inspector General of Police (IG) to launch special investigation into the matter because of the potential escalation of such crises if not urgently nipped in the bud.

Also, to arrest the recurrence of ugly trend of invasion of the palace of the Olubadan by the yet-to-be apprehended gunmen, and strengthen the peace in the land, the Ibadan King’s men called for seven days prayers and fasting by all well-meaning sons and daughters of the land and spirited residents of the city, to engender peace and tranquility in the land; known for its accommodating spirit.

The group therefore admonished all religious leaders to coordinate the fasting and prayers in their respective denominations starting from October 24, 2017.