The Authentic Mogajis in Ibadan on Monday said neither the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, nor a former Governor of the State and Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, will attend any peace meeting with the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The Mogajis announced their position following their meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
They told both Oba Adetunji and Ladoja not to have any peace meeting with Ajimobi until the gunmen who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of the revered Oba are apprehended and brought to justice.
A truce committee was last weekend raised in the city to midwife peace among the gladiators with a view of returning Ibadan to its peaceful status.
Those on the committee include President of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, some members of Ibadan Elders Forum, Religious leaders and opinion moulders.
But the family heads after their meeting told newsmen on phone that they were making representations to the monarch and Ladoja to boycott the peace parley.
Their spokesman, Chief Wale Oladoja, the Mogaji Akinsola compound in Oopo Labiran, said: “We deliberated extensively on the recent attack on the palace, which sad event occurred exactly a week ago, the peace parley and the security implications of the invasion of the Oba’s palace among other issues.
“We are worried that a week after the incident and the Governor’s insistence that he knew those who attacked the palace, the suspects are yet to be apprehended and brought to book.
“Yet they are talking of peace parley.
“Could they be talking about peace if the Kabiyesi’s life had been exterminated by gun toting palace invaders?
“We align with the position of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, that the governor should fish out the gunmen and make them to face prosecution.
“The police should also conclude their investigation on time and bring the suspects to justice.
“Anything short of this, we are ready to hold a mega rally and demand same from the authorities concerned.
“The Mogajis also reviewed the list of panel members of the truce committee and we have our reservations because many of them, especially the CCII and Ibadan Elders, have compromised and would be too biased in their judgment.
“So, we shall impress it on Kabiyesi and High Chief Ladoja to stay away from such arrangement.
“We will welcome a situation whereby those mediating are the religious leaders of the three major faiths: Christian, Islam and the traditionalists, and not people whose antecedents are well known and are therefore predictable.
“The CCII and Ibadan Elders have already supported the reform to the 1959 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration and nobody is ready to listen to them.
“The CCII is a social group and they should stick to what they are known for and stop speaking for all Ibadan sons and daughters who are stoutly in support of the preservation of Ibadan culture heritage and norms.”
On the way forward, Oladoja said: “The Mogajis agreed that the cases in court should be allowed to go on.
“That the peace parley be composed of people with pedigree, who have the fear of God at heart, most especially the adherents of the listed religious beliefs.”
The Mogajis also called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to beef up security around the monarch.
They said through Oladoja: “Nothing untoward must happen to Oba Adetunji because we have cause to express worry over the ongoing tussle in the land.”