Gov Ajimobi,Olubadan Spoil For Showdown Over Alleged Illegal Elevation Of Chiefs

The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, are headed for a serious confrontation over the promotion of nine High Chiefs by the Olubadan-in-Council without the approval of the governor.
Ajimobi, in a strongly worded statement on Monday, said he would bring the full weight of the law to bear on Oba Odulana and any other person who flouts the state’s laws on the elevation of chiefs.
The statement, signed by Zaccheaus Jayeola, the Director of Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said the Olubadan-in-Council, after notifying the state government of the move to elevate the chiefs, did not wait for final approval from Ajimobi before going ahead to announce the elevation of the chiefs.
While the statement, in some part, attempted to exonerate Oba Odulana, it is instructive to note that the Olubadan-in-Council is headed by the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The statement, which was copied to the state Director of the Department of State Services and the Commissioner of Police in the state, asked the organisers of a ceremony to elevate the chiefs to shelve the idea, adding: “Consequently, Government directs that the organisers and the beneficiaries to reverse the purported elevation  WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THIS PUBLICATION, failing which appropriate sanctions will be invoked under sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.  The case of Ashekoya  vs. Olawumi (1962) 1 All NLR 125 is instructive.”
The statement, titled: “THE ILLEGAL ELEVATION OF NINE HIGH CHIEFS IN IBADANLAND: THE POSITION OF THE OYO STATE GOVERNMENT,” reads in full: 1.      Government has observed with dismay and utter disappointment the recent ‘elevation’ of nine (9) Ibadan High Chiefs by the Olubadan-in-Council without the mandatory approval of the Government of Oyo State.  Government, as required under the Law, stated its position on the procedures for the elevation in its Public Service Announcement of 31st December 2015 and its letter to the OLUBADAN-IN-COUNCIL. The letter was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private secretary.
2.      It is to be noted for the avoidance of doubt that since the inception of the present administration, Government has resisted, as a matter of policy, any attempt to be lured  into religious, chieftaincy and labour union leadership and other contentious issues.  This is in order to maintain its neutrality, ensure fairness, justice and  respect for the rule of law.  Government will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and would neither encourage nor condone any tradition or peculiar culture of illegality, impunity, disregard and/or disrespect to constituted authority.  Instead, it has concentrated on its avowed mission on the peace, safety of lives and property, security, welfare and empowerment of the people, infrastructural development, employment generation and urban renewal, among others, to make life more abundant for the teeming populace of the State.
3.      It is in view of the foregoing that Government notes and states as follows:
(i)     Government’s suspicion and ardent belief are that the recent purported elevation could not have received   the blessing of our highly revered father and traditional ruler, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.  He is reputed to be a forthright and foremost traditional ruler with an enviable track record of achievements and  a firm believer in due process as well as a respecter of the rule of law.
(ii)    It is for this same reason that the Olubadan of Ibadanland expectedly wrote an earlier letter requesting the Governor’s due approval for the elevation of the nine (9) High Chiefs in accordance with the provisions of Section 14(2) of the Oyo State Chiefs Law.
(iii)    As a firm believer in the sacredness of tradition, His Royal Majesty had earlier cautioned and warned against politicising the Olubadan chieftaincy institution.
(iv)  Otherwise, what could have been the reason behind the hasty elevation without observing due process, which Government is duly complying with?
(v)   While the Government does not have any objection to the proposed elevation nor its beneficiaries, it is however insisting on due process and lawful procedure which had not been followed in the past.
(vi)    The appointment and or elevation of deserving persons into the Stool of Part II Chieftaincies can only be made on the approval of His Excellency, the Governor as prescribed by the provision of Chiefs Laws,  Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, whilst the Olubadan is the consenting authority.
(vii)  On the receipt of the application for the elevation of the Chiefs, His Excellency, the Governor, applying Section 14(2) of the Chiefs Law, referred their names for the mandatory security checks by the Department of Security Services and mandated the candidates to, on their own, provide their certificates of medical status from a Government secondary health institution.
(viii)  The status of the due process being carried out by Government was conveyed to the Olubadan via the Ibadan South East Local Government which was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private Secretary, in addition to the Government’s Public Service Announcement of Thursday, 31/12/15 relaying same.
(ix)   To further reiterate the legal provision on the issue, Sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws  stipulate relevant sanctions against whoever contravenes the provisions of the Law.
(x)    Apparently, the actions taken on the elevation of the Chiefs as widely publicised is illegal.  Moreso, when the Olubadan as the consenting authority had already commenced the due process by seeking the approval of the Governor for the appointment/elevation as prescribed by Law.
4.      Consequently, Government directs that the organisers and the beneficiaries to reverse the purported elevation  WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THIS PUBLICATION, failing which appropriate sanctions will be invoked under sections 21 and 26 of the Chiefs Laws, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.  The case of Ashekoya  vs. Olawumi (1962) 1 All NLR 125 is instructive.
cc.
1.    The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command
2.   The Director, Dept. of Security Services
3.   The Permanent Secretary, Min. of Health, Oyo State.