The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has described the statement credited to one of his High Chiefs, Owolabi Olakulehin, that the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, was misleading him as very rude and verbally reckless.
Olakulehin was one of the chiefs elevated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi as crown wearing obas on August 27, 2017.
The Olubadan, who was playing host to the members of Mesiogo Movement, a sociocultural club of Ibadan indigenes, at his Popoyemoja palace, was enraged against Olakulehin as he pointedly declared that the person who would lead him to recognise illegal crowns and cheap royalties had not been born.
The movement had come to complain about the disparaging statement of High Chief Olakulehin in a national newspaper against the Olubadan last Sunday.
Oba Adetunji noted that the peaceful resolution should center around the Oyo State High Court judgement delivered by Justice Olajumoke Aiki, which declared the Ibadan Chieftaincy review as unconstitutional and illegal.
He contented further that while the embattled high chiefs “are begging for rule of self help, we are asking for the rule of law”.
The first class monarch maintained that decorum is a characteristic of serving and ex-service men, but regretted that despite his military background, “the fellow called Olakulehin has not been displaying discipline expected of his high office”.
He stated that Balogun Olakulehin remains the most troublesome and verbally reckless member of the Olubadan-in-Council till date with unenviable records of quarrels with High Chief Amidu Ajibade, the late High Chief Femi Olaifa, Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun and now High Chief Rasidi Ladoja.
In the same interview, Olakulehin was said to have insulted the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Biodun Kola-Daisi.
Oba Adetunji stated that he was not surprised that the same Olakulehin had decided to supplant the Otun Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, in the same crown-wearing camp to assume the leadership of the group without regard to seniority.
He said: “At over 80, do we need to tell Balogun Olakulehin that you can make your point without insulting your elders?”
Oba Adetunji, who warned the crown-wearing Baales not to use the Ibadan Traditional Council crisis to illegally install chiefs without the consent of the Olubadan, stated that every illegality committed today would be taken up and dealt with according to the law some day.
Oba Adetunji, who advised the youths to embrace the spirit of excellence and hard work, said it was profitable, because of his personal experience as a successful young man that became a millionaire at age of 30.
He said: “Before I got married in 1959, I had built my first house at Ita Agarawu on Lagos Island, before God added more and more to it.
“So, where was Mr. Olakulehin in 1959 down to 1980?
“I have engaged in legitimate business ventures that took me to Europe and America.
“I didn’t need Olakulehin to help me sign contracts and speak English.”
Oba Adetunji stated that he would forever be grateful to God for using him to discover so many talents and promoting them to stardom, namely King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Alayeluwa Sulaimon Alao Malaika, the late Dauda Epo Akara, Asanat Omo Aje, Amuda Agboluaje, Tatalo Alamu, Waheed Larondo and Iyanda Sawaba to mention but a few, adding that no pauper can become Olubadan.
He stated that he demanded no kobo from Governor Ajimobi for his 90th birthday as wrongly insinuated by Balogun Olakulehin, adding it was the well-meaning people of Ibadan that chose to celebrate Olubadan at 90 because of what they called his steadfastness and commitment to Ibadan core values, which generations yet unborn would not forget.
In thier remarks the President and Secretary, Adegboyega Aderemi and Abiola Olaogun, hailed the monarch for his display of maturity and called on the state Governor to call the rude high chief to order in order not to set Ibadan ablaze.