The Ibadan Elders Forum on Tuesday
mediated in the crisis between the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi,
and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, over the elevation
of Senator Lekan Balogun, a former governor of the state, Rashidi
Ladoja, and seven other Ibadan high chiefs.
The IEF held a meeting at the house of
its Chairman, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, on Tuesday evening at the end of
which the matter was settled.
At the end of the meeting, which was
attended by Dr. Lekan Are, High Chief Adebayo Akande, and Ashipa
Olubadan, Chief Eddy Oyewole, the governor said the matter had been
resolved.
Ajimobi added that the elevated high
chiefs could retain their present status while the papers would be
perfected to reflect due process.
“We should thank God for the elders. Our
elders are committed to peace in Ibadanland and our king has shown that
he is a good monarch. He contributed to my success as governor.
“In this case, brothers are fighting and
elders have intervened. There is no cause for further misunderstanding.
We will perfect the papers because the issue has been resolved by men
of impeccable character. Due process will now take place. Sometimes, we
get married before perfecting a marriage ceremony,” the governor told
newsmen after the meeting.
Others at the meeting included the Olubadan’s son, Prof. Femi Lana, and the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun.
It will be recalled that the high chiefs
had been elevated by the monarch but the state government described the
action as illegal because it did not go through due process.
The state government said the action was
carried out by the Olubadan despite its directive that the high chiefs
should submit their medical certificates of fitness before the monarch
could elevate them.
The matter reached a crisis point on
Monday when the governor issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the organisers of
the elevation ceremony to reverse it and maintain the former status of
the affected high chiefs.
A source who preferred anonymity had
told our correspondent earlier on Tuesday that contrary to the
insinuation that politics was beneath the whole issue, the government
was only concerned that its directive was set aside before the
elevation.
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