How Olubadan died, by UCH, .UI mourns

 

 

.Why Lekan Balogun can’t be next monarch —Ex-Oyo AG writes Makinde

 

The University College Hospital, Ibadan has narrated that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, died at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital at 01.15 am.

 

The hospital in a statement by its Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Officer, Toye Akinrinola, said the monarch was referred to UCH from a private hospital in Ibadan about 9.30 pm on Saturday.

 

According to Akinrinola, the Chief Medical Director CMD, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, immediately directed a high-powered medical team to provide medical treatment to the late monarch.

 

The CMD was said to write the Governor, Seyi Makinde, to inform him of Olubadan’s death.

 

The statement read in part,  “The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Oguguniso 1, on  January 2, 2022, passed on at the Intensive Care Unit  of the University College Hospital, Ibadan at 1.15 am.

 

“The late Monarch was referred to the UCH from a private hospital in Ibadan at about 9.30 pm yesterday.

 

“He was immediately admitted at the ICU where the Chief Medical Director CMD, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo directed that a high-powered medical team be constituted to provide the best medical treatment to him.

 

“By 1.15 am today, His Imperial Majesty breathed his last breath.

 

“The CMD was at the ICU in the early hours of today to pay the late Olubadan his last respect.

 

“Afterward, the CMD wrote a letter of notification of the demise of the revered Monarch to His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State which was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Bashiru Olanrewaju on behalf of the Oyo State Government. A similar letter was written to the Family of the departed Olubadan.

 

“The CMD further ensured that the remains of the late Monarch were taken care of in a manner befitting to the late Olubadan.

 

“Professor Otegbayo also escorted the corpse of Oba Adetunji from the ICU to a waiting ambulance and handed the corpse to the family and other dignitaries on the ground.”

 

Also, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, commiserated with the immediate family, good and progressive people of Ibadanland, Oyo State, and Nigeria on the death of Adetunji.

 

He described Oba Adetunji as a pillar of support to the University, who indeed, never missed an opportunity to offer wise counsel and words of support for the progress of the institution.

 

The VC noted that Oba Adetunji was an enthusiastic investor and consummate people manager who contributed immensely to the success of many Nigerians.

 

Adebowale said, “My last engagement with Oba Adetunji was on 16 November, 2021, when he received our Chancellor and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, on a courtesy call, in his Popoyemoja Palace. Kabiyesi demonstrated that he was UI’s father and Chief Landlord. UI was, indeed, honoured and celebrated on that memorable visit.”

 

“I must say, Kabiyesi Adetunji lived humbly; served humbly; came loving; lived loving; and served loving.

 

“Oba Adetunji knew how to serve God; how to serve humanity; how to lead humanity: how to serve others; how to lead others; how to assist others; how to develop others and how to mentor others. He had the true formula of how to lead the community and society. He was a leader of leaders.

 

For Prof. Adebowale, “Our consolation lies in the great deeds of the late Olubadan which are engraved unforgettably in the hearts of women and men. Such deeds, which knew no ethnic or religious boundaries, bear clear testimony to the late Olubadan’s triumph over death.

 

“On behalf of the governing council, management, staff, and students of the University of Ibadan, we sincerely commiserate with the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the immediate family of the late Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), and all Ibadan indigenes and residents.”

 

Why Lekan Balogun can’t be next monarch —Ex-Oyo AG writes Makinde

 

There are strong indications that legal tussle may affect the appointment and installation of the next Olubadan of Ibadan.

 

A few hours after the monarch’s death, family members, friends, and well-wishers thronged the Aliiwo and Alarere Compounds of Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, who is the next in line to become Olubadan of Ibadanland, according to tradition.

 

But a former Attorney-General of Oyo State, Michael Lana, in a letter to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, argued that Lekan Balogun is unfit to be crowned as the next Olubadan of Ibadan.

 

The lawyer cited some ongoing legal cases that affected the eligibility of Balogun to become the Olubadan.

 

In the letter dated January 3, Lana explained that installing Balogun as Olubadan would amount to an “aberration and illegality”.

 

According to the ex-Attorney-General, Balogun, some high chiefs and Baales had been conferred their titles by the late Abiola Ajimobi, when he was the Oyo State Governor.

 

Part of the letter read, “Kindly note, your excellency, that your predecessor in office, without thinking of the legal effects of his actions on the future of Ibadan traditional institution, conferred the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and Baales and gave them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets in 2017.

 

“This action was challenged in suit No. M317/ 2017-high chief Rashid Ladoja V the governor of Oyo state.

 

“However, the court of appeal in Appeal No.CA/111/99/ 2018 set aside the said Judgment of Aiki J on technical grounds without touching on the merit of the case and sent the case hack for retrial,” the lawyer continued.

 

“Upon your excellency’s assumption of office, it was resolved that the matter be settled amicably and the same was settled through the instrumentality of a Terms of Settlement which became the judgment of the court.

 

“The said Terms of Settlement recognised the illegality of the said actions and therefore set aside the gazettes by which the said chiefs became Obas with a right to wear beaded crowns and coronets.

 

“These high chiefs and Baales were dissatisfied with this consent judgment and therefore instituted two separate suits to set aside the consent judgment while at the same time clinging to the title of Obas (which actually is in contempt of court).

 

“One of these cases is Suit No: Suit No. I/ 22/ 2020-HRM Oba (senator) Lekan Balogun & ors V governor of Oyo state & ors.”

 

No Oba can ascend Olubadan throne – Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957

 

The lawyer further explained that though the judgment amended the Ibadan chieftaincy customary law, “the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 was not amended and therefore remains extant”.

 

He added, “Under that declaration and all relevant law, no Oba can ascend to the throne of Olubadan.

 

“In other words, as long as the high chiefs still cling to the title of Oba, they cannot ascend to that throne and any installation of any of them during the pendency of that suit is illegal, null and void.

 

“It is in line with this legal situation that I advice, most humbly, that you should withhold any approval of any high chief to become the 0lubadan so that you will not also join in the desecration of Ibadan chieftaincy customary law.”

 

‘What can be done for Balogun to be installed’

 

Lana explained that until the cases are concluded or withdrawn, Balogun would be unfit to be installed as Olubadan.

 

He said, “There are only two ways to deal with this situation: one is for the high chiefs to withdraw the aforementioned cases and the other is to wait for the court to pronounce on it before any step is taken to install an Olubadan.

 

“If the court holds that they have the right to be Obas and entitled to wear beaded crowns, then they are perpetually barred from becoming another Oba. Nowhere in the customary law of any Yoruba town is an Oba elevated to become another Oba.

 

“On the other hand, the court holds that the Terms of Settlement stands, and their Obaship title is illegal, then they are free to be elevated to the post of Olubadan.”

 

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commiserated with the people of Ibadan and the family of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.

 

He said the late traditional ruler’s service to the people of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole will remain his enduring legacy.

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Monday, described Oba Adetunji’s death as a great loss to the people of Ibadan and traditional institution in Oyo State.

 

The Governor urged the family, friends and associates of the deceased as well as the entire people of Ibadan, whose interests the late monarch represented and worked tirelessly for during his lifetime to work towards immortalising him.

 

He said, “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos, I commiserate with my brother, the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the people of the ancient city of Ibadan, the deceased family, friends and associates on the transition of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who joined his forebears yesterday.

 

“The death of Oba Adetunji is a great loss to the people of Ibadan and he will be greatly missed. He made lots of positive impact during his lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria at large as a philanthropist, foremost music promoter and later as a traditional ruler.

 

“Oba Adetunji as a first class traditional ruler left a lasting legacy that the people of Ibadanland will continue to cherish. I pray that Almighty God be pleased with the soul of the late monarch and grant the royal family and the people of Ibadan the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”