Olubadan defends elevation of High Chiefs to Obas
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has spoken in defense of the elevation of the High Chiefs to monarchs.
While speaking on the elevation of Ibadan High chiefs to beaded crown-wearing obas, the monarch, said “We are here to reconstruct history because, what we are doing today, as historical as it is could not be said to be novel, but the history has to be reconstructed to make it enduring and sustainable and hopefully, it shall surely be”.
Oba Balogun explained that Ibadan had a peculiar system in traditional set up which continues to evolve, responding to dynamics of demand as situation demands, adding that it had been evident in the age-long aphorism that the only thing permanent in life is change.
“In short, whatever we are today in Ibadan as far as our traditional system is concerned are products of periodic changes we have passed through and there is no shying away from making this our own contribution to the system with the conviction that posterity will record us rightly.
“Just like the previous exercise generated controversy, our gathering here today has not been spared as well with arguments for its propriety or otherwise.
“The fact that the issue refused to die despite the controversy that trailed it up to the point of my coronation last year means it is an idea that has some merits in it which is worthy of embrace.
“It is sad to note that our people, especially those arguing against this exercise fail to note the differences between this current approach and the previous exercise as they cynically dismissed it as a repeat of what was done before, whereas, the singular fact that, Olubadan, as the prescribed and consenting authority of Ibadan traditional system originated the today’s exercise among other changes are more than enough to change the narratives.’’
Olubadan maintained that the event was not for a long speech to inform the public on the imperatives of ceremony, noting there is a consensus on the need for some of the Baales in Ibadanland to wear crowns and be addressed as Obas.
The former governor of Oyo State, Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, however, was conspicuously absent when the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun elevated eleven High Chiefs in the ancient city to the position of Obas and he has not spoken on why he was not present at the event as the Otun of Olubadan.
