FIC Report (Oyo State) – It was a chaotic atmosphere yesterday 18th February, at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, when some suspected hired hoodlums stormed the palace during installation of a new set of Mogajis.
Mogajiship is the starting line to the ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Arrangements had been put in place to install the new Mogajiship at the palace of Olubadan in accordance with the ancient custom and traditions of the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Every traditional office holders to grace the event had taken their seats, while the traditional process had begun, when the hoodlums, who were suspected to have been hiding in a nearby bushy place, came out, brandishing dangerous weapons. This interruption then led monarch to order postponement of the event, which would have led to conferment of chieftaincy titles of Mogajis in Ibadanland.
Consequently, some concerned Mogajiship have condemned the actions of the hoodlums, who disrupted the ceremony. In a statement, signed by the Publicity Secretary, Mogaji Tunji Jigan on behalf of other 102 Mogajis, the hoodlums, who came out of hiding in a nearby bush to disrupt the ceremony by brandishing cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, have assaulted the Ibadan tradition.
Nominees from the families of Aliiwo and Kujela, Sado, Odongo compound, and Lapata had been invited by the palace for the conferment of the chieftaincy titles. Some of the nominated individuals had been conferred with the title before the disruptions of the process while some were still waiting for their turn.
However, the palace had to postpone the installation of the nominees from the Aliiwo Compound, which was the family compound of the former Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun. It was believed that the invasion of the palace might have been due to petitions against some of the nominee from this family compound.
Our information officer gathered that those who were not installed from Aliiwo are Kojola, Isale Osi compound, Baale Akinsola, Baale Agbo village and Baale Sukuru.
While commending the Olubadan for stopping the installation ceremony, the Mogajis, in their statement, said, “the purpose of this statement is to express our gratitude for the step taken by Olubadan when there was an event of chieftaincy and installation of a Mogaji and contention developed thereon between the Aliiwo and Kujela families.
“Before the start of the event, some hoodlums surfaced at the venue brandishing cutlasses and dangerous weapons to stop the event. The Olubadan in Council then put the situation under control by stopping the installation.
“We urge the Olubadan to direct parties challenging each other on chieftaincy titles to do proper consultation and settle issues within their compound before coming to the Olubadan Palace for installation.
“We Concerned Mogajis will always support Olubadan and Olubadan in Council. We plead with them not to tolerate such chaotic situation, particularly within the premises of the palace”.
Signed
OYEWOLE TEMITOPE
SIO&PRO,
Edited by Moses Oyelade, AD(I&PR),
FIC,IBADAN.
