Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

The last may not have been heard on the Olubadan Chieftaincy law review by the Oyo State government as the government on Sunday, said the massive attendance and response by various stakeholders to the ongoing Olubadan Declaration Review panel has justified and vindicated its action.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun,  in a statement issued in Ibadan, said 91 out of the 118 memoranda received during the open sessions conducted by the panel requested for additional beaded crowns, while the remaining 27 called for the review of ascendancy into the Olubadan stool.

He reiterated the position of government that the proposed review was not targeted at any individual or group of people, stating that it is for the development, modernization as well as growth of the traditional council of Ibadan, Ibadanland and the state in general.

According to him, change is the only constant in life, stressing that all parties will eventually be convinced of the sincerity of government's proposition.  

Arulogun further stated that the action of government is within the ambit of the law of the Olubadan Declaration of 1957, assuring that it will be just and fair in examining the recommendations of the Justice Boade’s panel and align with the wishes of Ibadan people.

He maintained that the action of the government had precedence and it is in tandem with the aspirations of the people, saying, “It is high time we reiterated our earlier position and put issues in proper perspective. The action of the government is backed by law, there are precedents, the governor has the power to review the declaration and most importantly the government is fulfilling the yearnings of the people."

He said, “We are not being political with this issue and not targeting any individual. The purpose is to elevate the status of the Olubadan title and pave way for the development and modernization of Ibadan chieftaincy and Ibadan towns and city. We are running an all inclusive government and our government believes in collective responsibility in the Ajumose spirit. Our decision to review the Olubadan Declaration of 1957 was a response to several calls by stakeholders and we will follow the principles of openness, fairness and justice”.

Arulogun further disclosed that members of the Olubadan in Council, many High Chiefs in Ibadan, stakeholders including Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ibadan Elders Forum, Ibadan Progressive Union, Association of Recognised Mogajis, All the War Lords' families in Ibadan and eminent individuals, attended the sitting of the panel which lasted three weeks, pointing out that the panel received 118 memoranda during its sitting.

He explained that the panel, which finished its sitting on Friday June 23, 2017 and requested for four weeks extension, received 91 chieftaincy memoranda requesting for beaded crowns in Ibadan land, while the remaining 27 memoranda hinged on the review of ascendancy into the Olubadan stool.

He said, “the support and participation the Justice Boade’s panel received shows that the government is on course with its action. We are not doing this unilaterally, all stakeholders are involved and they have showed their support. This does not give any indication to the recommendations of the panel’s reports and we are not interested in pre-empting what the report will be. We want the people to also wait for the outcome of the panel’s recommendations and we promise to be fair and just.”

Arulogun urged the people to see the government's action from modernization and developmental view points rather than the political, emphasising that the yearnings of the people will always be superior to individual opinions and aspirations assuring that the government will not renege on its principles of openness, fairness, justice as well as the collective responsibility and all inclusiveness it is known for.