We, not Ajimobi govt, suspended your salary – Ibadan High Chiefs tell Olubadan

Some High Chiefs in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, who were promoted
to the status of Obas by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, have
insisted that they were the ones responsible for the stoppage of the
monthly salary of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and
not the state government as was being speculated.

The High Chiefs, who are now referred to as Obas, made this revelation
during a meeting attended by some community leaders (Mogajis) held at
Mapo Hall on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland,
Oba Lekan Balogun declared that the salaries from 10 months which the
Olubadan is entitled to would be suspended until he recognized their
new status as kings.

They added that it was sheer selfishness for the Olubadan to accept
his new title of "Imperial Majesty" and maintain a rigid stance
against their own installation.

Balogun said, "The Olubadan got promotion from royal majesty to
imperial majesty, he didn't complain but he is not ready to recognise
us as kings, how do you think that can be possible?

"He should remember that he couldn't have become king if we, the
kingmakers did not recommend him to the governor.

"It is not automatic that he should become king. In fact, anybody from
the chieftaincy title of Ekerin from both lines can be picked as
Olubadan of Ibadan.

"We recommended him to the governor before he was installed by the
same governor who installed us as kings.

"We want to correct the misconception that it was the state government
that stopped his salary. The governor is paying him his monthly salary
from time to time. But, there is another N200,000 he usually collects
from each of the 11 local governments in Ibadanland. That is the one
we suspended. He will start collecting it as soon as he recognises us
as duly-installed kings."