With The Current Olubadan
The Alli Iwo family of late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, is presently not happy with the manner in which a recent chieftaincy issue involving their family was handled by the palace of Olubadan.
A nominee for the vacant Mogaji (head) position in the family, Prince Kamaldeen Adeboye Giwa, had his nomination cancelled right at the installation ceremony which recently took place at the Oke Aremo palace of Olubadan. Giwa wasn’t the only affected candidate. Others who were also not installed included Mogaji Kojela Isale-Osi compound, Ibadan South West Local Government; Baale Akinsola village in Akinyele Local Government, Baale Agbon village and Baale Sukuru both from Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Installation of the affected candidates, we gathered, was put on hold as result of some hoodlums who allegedly stormed the palace in protest against their nominations. The Alli Iwo family of Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, however, didn’t find the development funny at all. They strongly believe there is more to the issue than meets the eye.
They wondered why the installation of their candidate could be cancelled while indeed same was approved by the Olubadan Advisory Council, via a letter dated 3rd February, 2025 and signed by the Clerk to the Olubadan Advisory Council, Balogun A. Kolawole.
The family not only alleged Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Matters to the Olubadan, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, as the mastermind behind failed installation but also described the incident an attempt to frustrate the appointment of a successor to the immediate past Olubadan.
Senator Kola Balogun, speaking for the family in a press statement, described the last minute cancellation of Giwa’s installation as unfortunate and unbefitting epitaph for the late Olubadan, Oba Dr. Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunnade II whose demise created the vacuum the new Mogaji is set to fill.
Though the family exonerated the reigning Olubadan Oba Owolabi Olakulehin from the whole controversy, describing him as a royal father who cherishes truth, justice, and fair play. But revealed that the cancellation was orchestrated by Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, a Special Adviser to the Olubadan on Chieftaincy Matters, who was previously relieved of his duties as Personal Assistant to the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.
The Alli Iwo family questioned how a mere Special Adviser could overrule the decision of the Olubadan Advisory Council, which had already sanctioned the installation, and after the Palace necessary requirements in cash and kinds had been met. Not minding the negative effects of such decision after the Ali Iwo family members, both at home and in the Diaspora, had mobilized in large numbers to the Oke Aremo Palace of the Olubadan for the epoch-making event only to be utterly disappointed.
They also expressed concerns about Chief Akinpelu’s past actions, which they believe are unbecoming of his office.
Balogun, the immediate past senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District and the younger brother of the immediate past Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, noted in the statement that as far as the family is concerned, “a leopard cannot change its skin when Chief Akinpelu is involved but one can only hope that when a supposed advice is adversary, the Council members should smell it.”
“Ordinarily and when a straight-forward person has such opportunity of having garnered experience of those number of years, such should become handy for the betterment of such an office, but it is unfortunate that Chief Akinpelu is not so moulded.
“Even, as recent as the tenure of his former and late Principal, Oba Lekan Balogun, it was a settled matter that only court judgment or injunction could stop the scheduled installation of any Mogaji or Baale.
“It was not once or twice that the issue was raised at the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meetings and was so reported in the media.
“The logic behind the decision which cannot be faulted is that for anybody to be scheduled for installation either as Mogaji or Baale, aside meeting all the palace requirements, there must have been preparations at the family compound or the community to entertain guests.
“So, what happens to the prepared food if an installation is scuttled based on some frivolous petitions or whatever?
“It is not within the purview of our family to recommend to either the Olubadan or his Advisory Council who to be employed for whatever position, but we owe posterity and our fatherland the counsel that demoted staff by the late Olubadan should be properly monitored if he must be engaged to avoid causing the institution unmitigated embarrassment.”
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin has since issued a press statement to clear the air over the controversy. Giving more insights as to why Alli Iwo’s Mogaji nominee and others were not installed, Olubadan urged all the families involved to settle the differences among themselves.
The monarch, in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Solomon Olugbemiga Ayoade, noted that nominations of the affected Magajis and Baales generated rancour within the families.
The statement reads: “The two Mogajis and the three Baales were disqualified because their families were divided and did not present consensus candidates, an act which is diametrically opposed to the concept, ideals and values of family headship.
“The headship of families is an age-long tradition of Ibadanland built on the pillars of family unity, cohesion and love. Whoever the family presents must be a consensus candidate without rancour.
“As the consenting authority, I owe it a duty to ensure that persons approved must be representatives of an overwhelming majority of members of the individual families they represent.
“This is a critical and crucial step in promoting peaceful co-existence in Ibadanland which will continue to be a cardinal point of my reign. Those disqualified need to go back to their families and put their house in order.
“No amount of cheap blackmail will derail the palace from ensuring forthrightness, equity and justice in the execution of the royal duties and assignments entrusted to me as the representative of our fore fathers.”
However, while accusations and counter accusations are ongoing, the highest body which sees to the running of Ibadan traditional affairs, the Olubadan-in-Council has since intervened in the matter. We gathered that members of the Council are deliberating on the crisis in other to find a permanent solution to the crisis.
-Dare Adeniran
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