Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji has been taken to the cleaners by Ibadan Obas for ordering them to remove their “illegal crowns”, apologise and return to the palace.

The Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the Obas, said; “Oba Adetunji’s directive that they should drop their crowns is hypocritical and an aspersion on the review of the law governing traditional institution in Oyo State.”

“None of the issues raised in our allegations against some of the activities in the palace such as non-screening of prospective Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads) by the council before installation had been addressed by the Olubadan.”

“We frowned upon the cash-and-carry manner in which people now get Mogaji and Baale positions, leading to the appointment of more than one Mogaji from the same compound and relinquishing of the palace authority to Olori (wife of the monarch).”

“Events have overtaken the court judgment being referred to by the Olubadan. The reform which led to the high chiefs’ elevation also led to the elevation of the Olubadan to His Imperial Majesty from Royal Majesty. So, what makes our own wrong and his own right?”

“The reform carried out by Governor Abiola Ajimobi is in the best interest of the state in general and Ibadan in particular. The Olubadan attended the meeting where we all agreed that the reform should be carried out.”

“But the first-class monarch capitulated on getting back to his palace when his wives castigated him, wondering how on earth would other ‘Oloris’ exist alongside them.”

“There is nothing new in having more than a monarch in a town or city, because Lagos today parades over 53 obas. Ile-Ife in Osun State is no longer a town with just the Ooni of Ife as its monarch, owing to a similar reform carried out by the state government. Yet, in all of these places, the paramountcy of the consenting authority is never eroded, which is what we have kept on telling our  baba.”