It was supposed to be a grand ceremony at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State. But it was devoid of grandeur, marred by the absence of the three Ibadan high chiefs who were to receive beaded crowns: Mobolaji Adewoyin as Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, Oyekola Babalola (SAN) as Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Sarafadeen Alli as Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde was expected to perform the coronation. However, he too was absent, delegating the ceremony to his deputy, Bayo Lawal.
The April 3 event was attended by a cross-section of the state’s political and traditional elite, ranging from members of the State Executive Council to traditional rulers and local government chairmen.
The state government said “this ceremony is being duly conducted,” citing the Ibadan chieftaincy declaration and Section 20 (1 and 4) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State Cap 28, Vol. 1, 2000, which gives the governor “the authority to confer beaded crowns on elevated High Chiefs in Ibadanland.” Makinde called them “newly crowned Obas.”
Interestingly, according to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the affected chiefs had formally notified him and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters of their unavailability, requesting a postponement of the ceremony due to prior commitments. It is curious that Governor Makinde proceeded with the coronation regardless of the chiefs’ absence. Critics have accused him of attempting to thwart Alli’s governorship ambition through the crowning. It is unclear how the coronation would affect his aspiration.
Commenting on the ceremony held in the absence of the new Obas, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State observed that the governor “made a mockery of the Yoruba traditional institution… when he installed photographs and empty chairs as Obas.” Save Oyo Movement (SOM), a group in Ibadan, also criticised the governor, saying “over N1.5 billion was allegedly spent” on the event.
The group alleged political undertones, arguing that “being a traditional ruler is not one of the grounds for disqualifying anyone from contesting for public office.”
Governor Makinde could have avoided this controversy. Why was he in such an unseemly haste to crown the high chiefs if the move was indeed well-intentioned? He had said the step was taken “to avoid creating a vacuum or distorting the well-structured arrangement of the Ibadan traditional system.”
The event was comical: a coronation without the kings is simply a non-event.
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