A non-political group in Ibadan, the IBILE G-7 has warned High Chiefs in Ibadan not to allow politics and politicians hijack the traditional institution in the ancient city.
The group made the declaration via a statement signed by the duo of its Coordinator and former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Lanre Ogundipe and its Secretary, Olajide Laniyonu.
The statement was made available to Newspot on Wednesday.
Newspot reports that the Olubadan stool became vacant as a result of the passage of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mahood Olalekan Balogun.
Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin is the next Olubadan of Ibadanland based on the traditional arrangement.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja who is the most senior Chief after Olakulehin had initiated a meeting with the other High Chiefs so as to begin the process for the installation of Olakulehin, but the meeting was shunned by the other High Chiefs.
IBILE G-7 in its reaction advised the High Chiefs not to allow politics and politicians to use them to desecrate the Olubadan stool.
The group said that High Chiefs at the centre of the on-going controversy should realise that their actions may disrupt the kingship process in the ancient city.
“The IBILE G-7 has warned High Chiefs in Ibadan not to allow politics and politicians to use them to desecrate the Olubadan stool, reputed to be the best, most reliable and non- controversial kingship ascendancy system in the entire Yorubaland.
“The process of ascendancy to the stool of Olubadan, which has become the envy of other towns in Yorubaland and which is now a case study in countries across the world about monarchies in Africa, may degenerate into absurdity and unnecessary controversy, which could generate disrepute for Ibadanland and its people, home and abroad.
“The IBILE G-7 has posited that High Chiefs behind this unwarranted tension being created and which has never happened before in the history of Ibadan land could be regarded as treachery and a coup against the constituted authority and the smooth arrangement in the enthronement of the new Olubadan of Ibadan.
“The High Chiefs at the centre of the on-going controversy, should realise that their actions may disrupt the kingship process as presently constituted, and may affect, how Kingmakers are selected and constituted, in accordance to the tradition of Ibadanland.
“We recall that eminent Ibadan elites had earlier warned on the infusion of Ibadan chieftancy hierarchy with people of questionable pedigree,” the group said.
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