The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has described the claim by the Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, that he is the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, as futile.
Ajimobi said this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
The governor said the purpose of his visit was to formally inform Buhari of the death of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, who died last Tuesday at the age of 101 years.
He said it was important for him to personally break the news of the monarch’s death to the President because of the deceased’s status in the society.
He added that it took time for him to come and inform the President of the death because of the delay in the message from the palace.
Having briefed Buhari on the Olubadan’s death, Ajimobi said the President had assured him that he would be part of the late Olubadan’s burial programme.
The governor said, “My mission here basically is to see Mr. President and intimate him of the recent transition of the Olubadan, who passed away a couple of days ago.
“We had to wait for the traditional message from the palace before we could convey this to the President. I am glad that I have been able to convey it.
“You may even ask why conveying such a message to the President, at least he was just an Olubadan?
“If you know, the Olubadan is not an ordinary king. Apart from the fact that he worked for the Federal Government, he was once a Minister of Labour under Alhaji Tafawa Balewa government when he was prime minister. He worked as a parliamentarian and a minister.
“He was part of the delegation to Britain for the Nigerian Constitutional Conference. Therefore, he was a national figure; hence he was honoured with a CFR. He contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria. So, he stood out as a king.
“I am glad to say that having seen the President, he has assured me that he would be attending the burial ceremony.”
When asked to comment on the situation where two Ibadan chiefs were laying claims to the Olubadan stool, the governor said Ibadanland had a unique plan that “makes the succession to the Olubadan throne rancour-free.”
He said Oyediji, who was laying claim to the stool, could not be. He said even if he was to be a Seriki now, which he was not, he would only be promoted to Ekerin (the fourth in the lineage).
He said the man could not come from Seriki to be Olubadan.
Ajimobi explained, “The beauty of the Olubadan institution makes it unique in the whole of Nigeria. It is the only institution where we know the next 20 or 50 Obas. We don’t fight for it.
“Every house can produce an Olubadan, including my house. So, it is not limited, like in some areas where you say this is the only family or these are the families. Every son of Ibadanland can become the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“Therefore, we feel it is a rancour-free succession programme where everybody is qualified to be there. So, we know the next to the next. In fact, we know the next 100th Olubadan.
“The Seriki House started during the period of the late Chief Adisa Akinloye and it has been decided even long ago that to be Olubadan from the Seriki line, you have to join if there are concurrent deaths of both the Ekerin and Ashipa, then you can qualify as Seriki to be Ekerin. But now, there is no vacancy for any Ekerin.
“The man (Oyediji) who lays claim to be the next Olubadan, even if he were to be a Seriki now, which he is not, he will only be promoted to Ekerin. He cannot come from Seriki to be Olubadan. It is not going to happen.
“We have had one before that was promoted to Ekerin, and along the line, he died. So, the people laying claim to Olubadan are just embarking on an exercise in futility.”
Ajimobi lauded Buhari for his ongoing anti-corruption war.
He advised Nigerians not to leave the fight to the President alone.
He said, “The President is not the only one who will fight corruption; the fight is for all of us.”
