The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has described the statement credited to the new kings that the former governor of Oyo State and High Chief, Senator Rasidi Ladoja was misleading him as very rude and verbally reckless.
Olubadan said the person who would lead them to recognise illegal crowns and cheap royalties had not been born.
The monarch stated this while welcoming members of Mesiogo Movement, a socio-cultural club of Ibadan indigenes at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace today.
The visiting delegations had come to complain about the disparaging statement of High Chief Olakulehin which was published on page 17 of the Sunday Punch (newspaper) of Sunday, September 9.
Oba Adetunji who hailed the youths noted that the peaceful resolution should centre on the Oyo State High Court judgement delivered by Justice Olajumoke Aiki which declared the Ibadan Chieftaincy review as unconstitutional and illegal.
He said while the embattled high chiefs are begging for rule of self-help, we are asking for the rule of law.
The monarch in a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, maintained that decorum is a characteristic of serving and ex-service men, but regretted that despite his military background, Olakulehin has not been displaying discipline expected of his high office.
He stated that Balogun Olakulehin remains the most troublesome and verbally reckless member of the Olubadan-in-Council till date with unenviable records of quarrels with High Chief Amidu Ajibade, the late High Chief Femi Olaifa, Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun and now High Chief Rasidi Ladoja.
In the same interview, he insulted the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Biodun Kola-Daisi, our correspondent learnt.
Oba Adetunji stated that he was not surprised that the same Olakulehin had decided to supplant the Otun Olubadan, Lekan Balogun in the same crown-wearing camp to assume the leadership of the group without regard to seniority.
“At over 80, do we need to tell Balogun Olakulehin that you can make your point without insulting your elders?” the monarch asked.
Oba Adetunji who warned the crown-wearing Baales not to use the crisis rocking Ibadan Traditional Council to illegally install chiefs without the consent of the Olubadan stated that every illegality committed today would be taken up and dealt with according to law some day.
Oba Adetunji, who advised the youths to embrace the spirit of excellence and hard work, noted that he became a millionaire at age of 30.
“Before I got married in 1959, I had built my first house at Ita Agarawu on Lagos Island, before God added more and more to it. So, where was Mr. Olakulehin in 1959 down to 1980? I have engaged in legitimate business ventures that took me to Europe and America, I didn’t need Olakulehin to help me sign contracts and speak English.
He stated that he would forever be grateful to God for using him to discover so many talents and promoting them to stardom, namely King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Alayeluwa Sulaimon Alao Malaika, the late Dauda Epo Akara, Asanat Omo Aje, Amuda Agboluaje, Tatalo Alamu, Waheed Larondo and Iyanda Sawaba to mention but a few.
The monarch added that no pauper can become Olubadan. He stated that he demanded no kobo from Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his 90th birthday as wrongly insinuated by Balogun Olakulehin adding that it is the well-meaning people of Ibadan that chose to celebrate Olubadan at 90 because of what they called his steadfastness and commitment to Ibadan core values which generations yet unborn will not forget.
In their remarks, both the President and Secretary of the group, Mr. Adegboyega Aderemi and Abiola Olaogun hailed the monarch for his display of maturity and call on the state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to call the rude high chief to order in order not to set the ancient city of Ibadan ablaze.
