Olubadan clears air on purported endorsement of chieftaincy review, says he never support move

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso1 has distanced himself from the purported endorsement of the review of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration proposed by Oyo state government.
Oba Adetunji in a statement made available to DAILY POST Thursday evening in Ibadan by his Director, Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko maintained that, “the review of the ancient city’s chieftaincy law which is calculated to create mushroom royalties and cheap crowns in Ibadanland is not backed by him”.

The monarch while reacting to a statement credited to the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun that he (Adetunji) was not forced to accept the chieftaincy review, stated that, “the High Chief was not telling the truth about his position at the meeting recently held with the Governor and Ibadan High Chiefs as he had never supported the review in the first instance.”
Oba Adetunji said that “For the avoidance of doubt, I, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, do not back the city’s chieftaincy review.
“And I want the present generation and posterity to record me as having nothing to do with it.

“First, I can never support the review of the system that works. Secondly, I cannot support the review of the system that has produced me as Olubadan without rancour, as doing so would be amount to an act of ingratitude to God Almighty and the people of Ibadanland’. Besides, what right does Otun have to speak for the Olubadan-in-Council when the Chairman of the said council has not directed him to do so?”.
Oba Adetunji said that all chiefs in Ibadanland subscribed to an oath to uphold the custom and tradition before they are conferred with chieftaincy titles.
He said “Yielding to pressure to have changes effected is like going against your oath and circumventing the route to the exalted throne.”

The monarch noted that there are neighbouring towns and communities whose monarchs have joined their ancestors several years back but due to succession disputes and dynastic struggle have
not been able to fill it.
He insisted that he could not envisage Ibadan falling into this trap if the Olubadan succession is reversed, stating that the tape in which he was alleged to have said that he backed the reform was doctored.
The monarch further maintained that he never supported the move.