IBADAN CHIEFTAINCY AND TRADITIONAL SYSTEM; SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT
The Ibadan chieftaincy and traditional system is unique and
most rancor-free in this part of the world.
Since the creation of Ibadan in 1829 as a war camp for
warriors coming from other parts of Yoruba land, ascension to the throne has
been a smooth flawless procedure.
The Olubadan as the head of the entire system is not just
the ruler of Ibadan but the paramount ruler of the entire Ibadan Land.
High Chief Y. B. Ogundipe (Before he became Olubadan) once
wrote about the Olubadan; “The whole of Ibadan and its environs belong
to the Olubadan. To him belongs the stretch of land both within the Metropolis
and all local government councils surrounding the city. He is the paramount
ruler in the entire area. I am happy that our brothers and sisters in these
areas accept the paramountcy of the Olubadan. They have not allowed dissidents
any room to operate.”
The statement by Oba
Ogundipe underscores the spirit behind the Ibadan Traditional system.
The system is republican as against dynastic monarchical
authoritarianism which operates in other places. Governance is based on collective wisdom and
consensus at each level such that dictatorship and dissidence are not given
space in the system. Ibadan and her people have never changed the system that
runs like clockwork and engenders peace.
In the system, each constituting household is represented by
a Mogaji. The Mogaji title is the
bedrock of the Ibadan Traditional System, the very foundation the whole
superstructure rests on for the peace, progress and tranquility of Ibadan land.
The traditional system that produces the Olubadan of Ibadan Land consists of
two approved lines; OTUN and BALOGUN LINES.
|
EGBE
AGBA (Civil Line |
EGBE
BALOGUN (Military Line) |
|
1. Otun
Olubadan 2. Osi Olubadan 3. Asipa Olubadan 4. Ekerin Olubadan 5. Ekarun Olubadan 6. Abese Olubadan 7. Maye Olubadan 8. Ekefa Olubadan 9 Agbaakin Olubadan 10. Aare Alaasa Olubadan 11. Ikolaba Olubadan 12. Ashaaju Olubadan 13. Ayingun Olubadan 14. Aare Ago Olubadan 15. Lagunna Olubadan 16. Oota Olubadan 17. Aare Egbe Omo Olubadan 18. Gbonka Olubadan 19. Aare Onibon Olubadan 20. Bada Olubadan 21. Ajia Olubadan 22. Jagun Olubadan |
1. Balogun |
The High Chiefs constitute the Olubadan-in-Council, the
pre-eminent advisory council of the Olubadan. The council operates on the basis
of consensus but the Olubadan has the final say on all issues.
Members of the council are
| EGBE AGBA (Civil Line) | EGBE BALOGUN (Military Line) |
|
1. Otun
Olubadan |
Balogun |
The present members of the council are
|
EGBE
AGBA (Civil Line) |
EGBE
BALOGUN (Military Line) |
|
1. High Chief Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja Otun Olúbàdàn of Ìbàdànland 2. His Royal Majesty, Oba Eddy Oyewole Osi Olubadan of Ìbàdànland 3. His Royal Majesty, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi Asipa Olubadan of Ìbàdànland 4. His Royal Majesty, Oba S. Amidu Ajibade Ekerin Olubadan of Ìbàdànland 5. His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebayo Akande Ekarun Olubadan of Ìbàdànland 6. High Chief (Mrs.) Teresa L. Oyekanmi Iyalode of Ibadanland |
1. His Royal Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin Balogun of Ibadanland 2. His Royal Majesty, Oba Barr. Tajudeen Abímbólá Ajibola Otun Balogun of Ibadanland 3. His Royal Majesty, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe Osi Balogun of Ìbàdànland 4. His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Kola Adegbola Asipa Balogun of Ibadanland 5. His Royal Majesty, Oba John Olubunmi Isioye Dada Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland 6. His Royal Majesty, Oba Abiodun Azeez Agagagugu Ekarun
Balogun of Ibadanland |
Ibadan has had 42 kings. The same system has produced the
Olubadans without rancor.
1. Lagelu – 1820
2. Baale Maye Okunade – 1820-1826
3. Baale Oluyendun Labosinde – 1826-1830
4. Baale Lakanle – 1830-1835
5. Basorun Oluyole Ojaba – 1835-1850
6. Baale Oderinlo Opeagbe Idiomo/Kure – 1850-1851
7. Baale Oyesile Olugbode Ita Baale – 1851-1864
8. Ba’ale Ibikunle – 1864-1865
9. Basorun Ogumola Mapo – 1865-1867
10. Balogun Beyioku Akere Onitamperin – 1867-1870
11. Baale Orowusi (Awarun) Kobomoje – 1870-1871
12. Aare Oladoke Latoosa Oke-Are – 1871-1885
13. Balogun Ajayi Osungbekun Kobmoje – 1885-1893
14. Baale Fijabi 1 (Omo Babalola) Oritamerin – 1893-1895
15. Baale Osuntoki Olusun Agbeni – 1895-1897
16. Basorun Fajimi (Yerombi) Oranyan – 1897-1902
17. Baale Mosaderin Sunlehinmi Oranyan – 1902-1904
18. Baale Dada Opadare Mapo – 1904-1907
19. Basorun Sumonu Apanpa Isale-Osi – 1907-1910
20. Baale Akintayo
Awanibaku Elenpe Bere, Aboke – 1910-1912
21. Baale Irefin (Omo Ogundeyi) Oke Ofa Babasale –
1912-1914
22. Baale Shitu (Omo Are Latosa) Oke Are 1914-1925
23. Baale Oyewole Aiyejenku Omo Foko Oke Foko – 1925-1930
24. Olubadan Okunola Abaasi Alesinloye Isale Ijebu –
1930-1946
25. Olubadan Fagbinrin Akere II Oritamerin – 1946-1946
26. Olubadan Oyetunde I Eleta – 1946-1946
27. Olubadan Akintunde Bioku Oleyo, Oranyan – 1947-1948
28. Olubadan Fijabi II Oritamerin – 1948-1952
29. Olubadan Memudu Alli Iwo Gbenla – 1952- 1952
30. Olubadan Igbintade Apete Oke Ofa – 1952-1955
31. Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele Alafara – 1955-1964
32. Oba Yesufu Kobiowu Oranyan – 1964-1964
33. Oba Salawu Akanbi Aminu Adeoyo – 1965-1971
34. Oba Shittu Akintola Oyetunde II Eleta – 1971- 1976
35. Oba Gbadamosi Akanbi Adebimpe Odinjo – 1976- 1977
36. Oba Daniel Tayo Akinbiyi Elekuro – 1977-1982
37. Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike IdiAro – 1983- 1993
38. Oba Emmanuel Adegboyega Operinde Isale Ijebu –
1993-1999
39. Oba Yinusa B. Ogundipe Arapasowu I Oranyan –
1999-2007
40. Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I- 2007–2016
41. Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji – 2016–2022
42. Oba Lekan Balogun – 2022–2024.
The High Chiefs
are led by the most senior and next in line to the Olubadan.
Today, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin is Olubadan designate, from
the military Balogun line. The next in line is the Otun Olubadan, His
Excellency Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The lot for leadership of the Council therefore falls on the
ex-governor.
He therefore has a duty, among others, to convoke and lead
meetings of the Council.
During the inauguration of the lesser Obas, it was clearly
stated that their crowns were only ceremonial. The Olubadan-in-Council, by law,
is peopled by High Chiefs. The Obas are therefore Ceremonial Obas and
substantive High Chiefs. Regarding them as substantive Obas would have
disqualified them from sitting on the Olubadan-in-Council.
The system has however been magnanimous to them. They now
sit in the council with the proviso that their crowns are only ceremonial.
Claiming that their ceremonial crowns are above the position
of the Otun Olubadan is a great disrespect for the Olubadan and by extension
Ibadan Land. Arbitrarily selecting one of them to head the council amounts to
treason against Ibadan land and her chieftaincy system.
If the system had stuck to the dictates of the law, wearing
beaded crowns should have excluded them from still being in the
Olubadan-in-Council, since they (claim) they are no more High Chiefs and only
High Chiefs can be in the Council.
Since, according to the royal majesties, “a chief, no matter
how high, cannot be superior to or above a royal majesty, adding that High
Chief Ladoja, as a chief, cannot convene or chair a meeting where the royal
majesties are in attendance.” It is only logical that they should not sit in a
convocation of High Chiefs which the Olubadan-in-Council has always been.
Maybe they could rather form a new body of Council of Obas,
an apparition unknown to the Ibadan Traditional System.
It must be stated categorically that we cannot change
history, or change tradition. We must not alter the culture of Ibadan land.
The former King was Otun Olubadan while the new king will be
from Balogun line.
The only person that has power to summon meetings is the
Otun Olubadan His Excellency, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja who is hale and
hearty, healthy and doing fine.
The law and practice of Ibadanland recognizes
Olubadan-in-Council and not Oba-in-council.
Dissidence and treasonable conspiracy have been unknown
since 1820 and 42 Olubadans and should not be encouraged.
The people of Ibadan should demand an apology from the Obas
and they should be compelled not to abuse the magnanimity of the system.
High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja stands by the idea that
from the time of Lagelu 1820, Baale Maye Okunade 1820-1826, Baale Oluyendun
Labosinde 1826-1830, Basorun Oluyole Ojaba 1835-1850, Basorun ogunmola Mapo
1865-1867, Aare Oadoke Latoosa Oke-Are 1871-1885, Oba Saliu Akanmu adetunji
2016-2022 to Oba Lekan Balogun 2022-2024 the Ibadan Traditional System has
sustained and maintained peace and tranquility and any attempt to change that
now is invitation to anarchy.
High Chief Ladoja is
against cutting corners to get to the throne of Olubadan and asserts that due process must be followed.
Ibadanland is bigger than the personal ambition of anybody,
indigene or citizen.
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