Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The head of Seriki clan in Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, has approached the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, praying the court to charge the Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, with contempt of court.
He also wants the Olubadan-in-waiting to be committed to prison if installed as the next Olubadan.
When contacted, the media aide to the Olubadan-designate, Adeola Oloko, told our correspondent that he was not aware of Oyediji’s move to compel the court to jail Adetunji, stressing that the Olubadan-designate would react at the appropriate time.
After the death of Oba Samuel Odulana on January 19, the Olubadan-in-Council adhered to the Olubadan succession system, which favoured Adetunji as the next Ibadan king because of his rank as the Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
A March 4, 2016 date has been fixed for Adetunji’s coronation.
But Oyediji is challenging the decision, saying he should be crowned as the next Ibadan monarch.
Hearing in pending suit has been fixed for March 8, 2016, before Justice Mukthar Abimbola.
Oyediji is praying the court to compel Adetunji and the Olubadan-in-Council to obey the 2008 injunction, which he said restrained them from elevating any High Chief to the position of the Olubadan of Ibadan.
Counsel for Oyediji, Abideen Adeniran, said by disobeying the 2008 ruling of Justice M.O. Ishola, which granted an interlocutory injunction, restraining the State Governor, the Attorney General, the late Oba Odugade and six other High Chiefs from appointing any of them to the stool of Olubadan, pending the determination of the originating summons, the Seriki line had been robbed of the right it was entitled to in the Olubadan succession system.
Notifying journalists of his application to send Adetunji to prison, Oyediji said the court order was sequel to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Seriki line and the other two royal lines.
Oyediji said when he began the royal ascension in the Seriki line in 1976, the current Olubadan-designate was five steps behind him.
He added, “When I signed on behalf of the Seriki line for the ascendancy arrangement, the only chief among us that was still alive until the recent court matter was Oba Odulana. Now that he had joined his ancestors, I am the only living chief with the right to be installed the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“All the elevations that were made since the injunction, including that of Adetunji, who has presented himself to the purported kingmakers of the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy and the Governor of Oyo State, for appointment as the Olubadan of Ibadan, are illegal.”
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