Political challenge before Olubadan
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OLUFEMI ATOYEBI examines the challenges ahead of the new Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji
Due to the respect the throne of
Olubadan of Ibadan land commands, it is difficult for any politician who
aspires to a public office to ignore its importance.
Since the occupier of the throne is
often seen as a link between the subjects and the mighty in the society,
the Olubadan is often dragged unconsciously into politics of Oyo State.
Even though the late Olubadan, Oba
Samuel Odulana Odugade, made it clear that his senior chiefs were not
expected to engage in partisan politics, some of them are indeed big
politicians in different capacities in Oyo State.
Perhaps because of the inseparable
nature of man and politics, some of the high chiefs, like the late
Lamidi Adedibu, dared the late Olubadan on the issue of partisan
politics. The relationship between the two prominent Ibadan sons turned
sour, with the late politician damning all consequences, including
demotion by the Olubadan-in-Council. He even stayed away from the
coronation of the late Olubadan because the then monarch ordered Adedibu
to hands off partisan politics at the height of volatile politics in
Ibadan in 2007.
Adedibu was not the only Ibadan high
chief to be fully involved in politics. The Accord Party leader, Rashidi
Ladoja, is a former governor of the state and now the Osi Olubadan. He
also has yet to quit partisan politics. The Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan
Balogun, was until during the last general election, a chieftain of the
Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State.
Oyo State politics is so deeply rooted
in the grass roots, such that those who are close to the people enjoy
regular patronage from politicians. The coronation of the new Olubadan
of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, was held on March 4, with the Oyo State
Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, stressing that the Olubadan must be
above board in his dealings with his subjects because the jurisdiction
of the king spanned over 11 local government areas in and around the
metropolitan city.
Even if the Olubadan wants to stay
within the norm, politicians from various political parties in Ibadan
will troop to the palace to pay their obeisance and in the process ask
for his royal blessings for their political ambitions. Even if the
Olubadan wants to look away, it is difficult to reject visits by top
politicians and offer of positions to his close associates and family
members.
During the preparation for the last
general election, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, caused a row in February 2014. The
former President landed in Ibadan from Abuja according to his itinerary
and boarded a chopper to Oyo town where he had a closed-door meeting
with the Alaafin.
The Olubadan-in-Council took offence in
the fact that the President overlooked the Olubadan when he landed in
Ibadan before jetting off to Oyo town. According to the council, it is
customary that a prominent person like the President, who was visiting
Ibadan, either in transit or on a major visit, must pay homage to the
Olubadan.
Governor Ajimobi was caught in the
crossfire as he was accused of not properly guiding the President and
thereby bringing the throne of Olubadan into disrepute. The council said
Jonathan breached protocol and that the Olubadan was actually waiting
to receive him in his palace before learning that he (Jonathan) had
flown to Oyo town.
Reacting to the allegation, the then
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, Dr. Reuben
Abati, said the former President had already lined up two visits to
Ibadan with both coming up within two months of the visit to Alaafin.
Abati said the former President was
billed to attend the South-West zonal rally of the PDP holding in
Ibadan, as well as the centenary birthday celebration of the Olubadan.
He said, “The President appreciates the
overwhelming supports he enjoys from the Olubadan, the people of Oyo
State and the South-West in general. The Olubadan is a father and since
the President assumed office, he has visited him twice. He enjoys an
excellent relationship with the Olubadan and his palace and that is
something he cherishes. Therefore, he has no reason whatsoever to treat
the palace and the people of Ibadan in any way that will damage that
excellent relationship.”
The former President indeed fulfilled
the promise with the visits to the Olubadan, prominent among them being
his presence at the 100 years birthday celebration of the monarch.
This is an example of the politics and
relationship that exists between traditional rulers and politicians,
which dates back to the colonial period.
Governor Ajimobi showcased his political
skill in the state when he approached prominent Oyo State monarchs,
including the late Olubadan, by bringing their sons and daughters to
serve in the All Progressives Congress-led cabinet. Olubadan’s son,
Gbade Lana, was appointed the state Commissioner for Information.
It could be argued that the children of
the monarchs are adults and responsible for their decisions but prior to
their appointments, all of them were not notable political players but
using their family names spoke volume of how highly the governor rates
the monarch when it comes to politics, and the relationships that
existed between him and the king at the time.
But Ajimobi offered an excuse for his
action, saying that they (the children of the monarch) were all
qualified to hold political offices.
He said, “I am aware of what some people
have been saying about the appointment of the children of some
traditional rulers as commissioners. The question is: Who among them was
not qualified for the appointment?
“Besides, I want to state here that I
appointed them by myself. None of their fathers contacted me or
requested appointment for any of the commissioners. I perused their
papers thoroughly and I discovered that they all had their track
records. They all did very well and we are proud of them. Let me also
state that the appointment was to show our respect to the traditional
rulers, support for the traditional institution and to recognise the
contributions of their respective families to the development of the
state.”
Apart from the appointment of the royal
fathers’ children to serve in the APC-led government in the state, some
of the royal fathers’ children picked up nomination forms of the
political party and contested the last election. One of the prominent
kings’ sons, who was a former council chairman, is now a federal
lawmaker.
Another responsibility that the new
Olubadan shoulders is the reform that the state governor wants to
introduce to the Ibadan chieftaincy system. There are 23 steps between
the first step in the royal lines, Balogun and civil, and the Olubadan.
In completing the step, Oba Adetunji spent 40 years and it could have
been more if the former Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Sulaiman
Omiyale, did not die last November. His death paved the way for Adetunji
to become the Olubadan.
The reform will see junior chiefs being
elevated early to the royal lines so that gradually, younger chiefs will
move up the ladder and become the Olubadan. The present Olubadan is 87
and the late Olubadan was installed at 92. Naturally, junior chiefs from
various compounds in Ibadan will jostle to enter the royal lines and
the new Olubadan will be at the centre of the decision to approve or
deny them.
However, former Managing Director of Daily Times,
Chief Areoye Oyebola, has urged the new Olubadan to shun politics in
order to retain the confidence of the people. He also called on him to
ensure younger men who were educated were encouraged to be in the two
royal lines, while frowning at the 23 steps it would take to reach the
Olubadan throne.
“At a lecture I delivered in honour of
the late Oba Odulana in the University of Ibadan, I suggested that
younger men who are educated should be put forward to join the two lines
that produce Olubadan so that they will not be too old by the time they
rise to become Olubadan in the future.
“Our society will thrive if educated
younger people rule so that they can contribute to the development of
the society. But the Olubadan-in-Council has a say over that.
“I also suggested that the long step to
the throne should be reduced to 12. It will hasten ascendancy to the
throne and produce younger kings. Some of our Olubadan spent 40 years to
reach the throne.
“Olubadan and indeed our high chiefs are
not supposed to play partisan politics. This will restore the
confidence that the people have in them,” he said.
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