The Ibadan Council of Obas, on Monday, rose from a meeting at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, accusing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, of acts capable of undermining his office.
The council, therefore, issued a 21-day notice, after which its members said they would recommend the removal of the traditional ruler from office to the state governor.
The council, led by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, stated this while addressing a press conference on Monday.
He accused the Olubadan of taking actions on behalf of the council without consultation or input from members.
The council also accused the Olubadan of inciting the Ibadan people against the state government, which, according to the members, was not representative of the relationship between the council and the government.
The traditional rulers were particularly angry that all the issues pending between them and the Olubadan, which almost led to taking legal action against him in the past, were still not addressed by him.
It will be recalled that relationship between the Olubadan and most of the council members had become frosty since Governor Abiola Ajimobi approved the recommendations of a 11-man judicial panel of inquiry to review the laws guiding the chieftaincy system in Ibadan.
The panel, headed by Justice Akintunde Boade (retd), recommended beaded crown for all former high chiefs, who are members of the Olubadan-in-Council.
After approving some of the recommendations of the panel, Governor Ajimobi, on August 28, 2017, crowned members of the council alongside former baales from lesser cities of the state capital.
The action had since further widened the gulf between the crowned obas and the governor on one side, and the Olubadan and his loyalists, including the former governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on the other side.
Speaking at the press conference on Monday, Oba Balogun said it took the intervention of the Ibadan Elders Council for the council members to stop legal action against Oba Adetunji.
Though the obas said they were not keen on removing the Olubadan, they, however, said if he failed to mend his ways within the next 21 days, the council would recommend his removal from office to the governor.
Apart from the initial “sins” which they said were yet to be addressed, the Olubadan, they further alleged, had added some others, necessitating the new ultimatum, stating that the palace had barely witnessed peace since his ascension to the throne.
According to the press statement read by Oba Balogun, the “Olubadan-in-Council meetings have not conducted the way they are supposed to be. Oloris are still attending meetings with us.
“The appointment of baales and mogajis are not in compliance with the rules and standards.”
He said after the expiration of the ultimatum, a vote of no confidence would be passed on Oba Adetunji, adding that the kingmakers who nominated him for confirmation and approval would also call for his removal.
“We are, by this conference, giving His Imperial Majesty 21 days ultimatum to change his stand now and work for the improvement of Ibadan, rather than disorderliness,” the obas further said.
Other members of the council in attendance were Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun of Ibadaland; Oba Abimbola Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Eddy Oyewole, the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland and Oba Kola Adegbola, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.