Contributors: Adesina oluwaseun, Kehinde Ayanboade, Bolaji Olanrewaju
A collosal loss beclouded the city of brown roof at the early hour of 2022. Just like an alarm, the blaring deafened the city like the final trumpet that is said to be blown in the end. It is an imminent loss of a significant figure, meriting yet overwhelmed the city of Ibadan and its environs on the 2nd of January 2022, immediately after the new year celebrations; Oba Saliu Adetunji Ajeoguguniso 1, joined his ancestral after a brief illness at University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan around 1am in the hospital Intensive Care Unit.
The official statement of his death was announced by the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, which he expressed his grief, losing a worthwhile leader, a ruler for the masses, a philanthropist and a priceless figure to the dead.
Oba Adetunji Saliu died at the age of 93. He became the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan land on March 04, 2016 after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Samuel Odulana. Saliu Adetunji was Balogun of Ibadan land prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Oba Adetunji Saliu was the eldest child of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji, a family of 17, born on August 26, 1928 in Ibadan, Oyo state. He grew up to Fashion Designing as his early age vocational skill which he resorted to as a means of living. An agile and a visionist man would not cart his eggs in a single basket, this made him delved into Musical Record Marketing. Good tides bade him home in music industry, he founded his first three records label imprints called Baba Laje Records, which housed notable Fuju music artistes including Dauda Epo-Akara and Wasiu Ayinde Marshall,
To honour the traditional rite, a one day public market day-off was officiated by the state government to honour the late king.
He was survived by his wife, Olori Rashidat Ololade Adetunji, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
CHAOS, GRIEVANCE OR GAIN? THE ROOT OF MAYHEM
Right from inception, Every township has their traditional Kingship pattern which have to be followed statutorily.
In the absence of any law, power or obstruction that may occur, The death of late Ọba Saliu Akanmu Olasupo Adetunji and the question of who would be the next and 42nd Olubadan shouldn't be a controversial discourse.
It could be recalled that the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Late Ṣen. Abiola Ajimobi during his second term in office came with an agenda to promote chiefs to the level of been king in their respective district.
Late Ajimobi was of the opinion that Ibadan is a very large city which he deemed fit to be too larger than what a king can run. He planned and actualize his agenda of promoting 22 kings who are qualified mogajis who had kdeady stepped up to the position of Otun, Osi, Balogun, Otun Balogun and other high ranking chieftaincy positions. Ajimobi wooed the likes of Otun, Sen. Chief (Ọba) Lekan Balogun and 21 others to pick the promotional post of which High Chief. Sen. Rashidi Ladoja who coincidentally happened to be a formal Governor and Predecessor of late Ajimobi reject the offer and stood aside from the promoted monarchical seats.
There were rising number of reactions on the decision of late Governor Ajimobi questioning why he could came up with such agenda. It's quite obvious the late Ọba Saliu Adetunji can't be on the same page with this policy as the Yoruba do says that "Bí ọba kan ò bákú, Ọba míràn kò le jẹ". But the then Constitutional authority overlooked these reactions and went on with this decision. This matter trended to the extent that this policy almost rendered that Olubadan powerless, that even the 21 promoted kings threatened that they can decide the fate of the Olubadan adding that they can decide if his salaries should be paid or not.
With the emergence of Gov. Seyi Makinde who found it necessary to settle the standing rift and return succor to the Kingship system in Ibadan, High Chief Ladoja took the kings to court in a case trying to test the plausibility of their promotion to such level. This issue has since been in court and has not been fully resolved after series of adjournment.
When Ọba Adetunji passed on, legitimately, Chief Lekan Balogun may not be totally entitled to the post due to the fact that a person can't be king in two kingdoms, although he's been advised to take the discharge the case for an out of court settlement. Sen. Rashidi Ladoja who at first was mute on the matter created an impression of possible tussle between who the next ọba would be. Ladoja who seems to understand peace and the importance of tranquility later made a statement claiming Lekan Balogun can be the next king and additionally gave a reason why he has not been coming to his house for Olubadan in Council's Meeting.
Some decades ago, traditional monarch started losing its power to Constitution law due to civility and enticed entitlements. Hundreds of years back, Oba, the king is said to be the overseer of all that blinks and breathes within his jurisdiction. Oba has power over everything, his word is the final say. One of the meaning of oba is said to be the 2nd in command of Olodumare (God), who rules in God's stead.
The Yoruba Traditional System prior to the coming of the colonial masters, identifies the king as the Paramount ruler of the land, and representative of God and the gods on earth. The introduction of the indirect rule and updating policies which introduce the western governance pattern that make the king a subject to a constitutionally elected authority i.e Governor, and President. The king now stand as advisers and have to live on salaries rather than the tax generation which used to be their source of income.
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