Jubilation in Ibadan as Ajimobi Enthrones 20 New Kings, Olubadan, Ladoja Shun Ceremony

to national security are ignored and allowed to fester.

Danfulai, who is from Southern Kaduna, warned: “I don’t see the security agents ready and capable of containing the fall out together with the Boko Haram insurgence in the North-east. So, the best is to avoid any action capable of unleashing anarchy in the land.”

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, the umbrella body of all youths from Ijaw land, yesterday alleged that the federal government was institutionalising double standards in the running of the nation’s affairs.

President of the group, Mr. Eric Omare, in a statement in Yenagoa, national headquarters of the IYC, specifically noted that the planned re-arrest of Kanu was not only unfair but smacks of double standards.

He argued that the federal government partiality had even become more obvious given that the Arewa youth leaders that threatened to evict Igbo people from the North were neither arrested nor firmly reprimanded.

According to the group, many Niger Delta agitators are also languishing in various jails in the country, while the Arewa youths are being feted by state governments in the North.

Also, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said any attempt by the federal government to re-arrest Kanu will be resisted by the people of the South-east zone.

The group described media reports credited to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in which he requested the Federal High Court to revoke the bail given to IPOB leader as the “height of insensitivity’ and unwarranted ‘intimidation.”

The group in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu and made available to journalists in Enugu yesterday, said Kanu’s non-violent activities towards Biafra actualisation and restoration have never breached, truncated or confronted the “fragile and inconsistent constitution of this federation called Nigeria.”

He said the minister’s request was born out of “mischief and ignorance,” stressing that the federal government was indirectly trying to overheat the polity. “Even the Interior Minister, Abdurahman Dambazzu, a Fulani man defended his Hausa Fulani youths of Arewa that threatened the people of Biafra with an ultimatum of quit notice to vacate Arewa land before October 1, 2017 that the coalition of the Arewa youths were misquoted by the media,” he noted. Ademola Babalola

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State made history yesterday in Ibadan when he enthroned 20 new kings for the city of Ibadan which had for centuries maintained sole status of Obaship as represented by the Olubadan of Ibadan. The colourful event witnessed a mammoth crowd of jubilant audience with the presence of traditional rulers from neighbouring Ogun and Osun States who stormed the city to rejoice with the new kings.

In what appears to be the elevation of the Olubadan of Ibadan to the imperial majesty status therefore making Ibadan, the most populous Yoruba city with 11 local government councils rank alongside other cosmopolitan cities in Nigeria with scores of Obas, Ajimobi said: “We are not changing the history but promoting and elevating the Ibadan traditional hierarchy. The coronation of the new Obas will not undermine the authourity of the Olubadan nor alter the Olubadan succession arrangements in anyway. Our administration is rather consolidating and elevating the status of Olubadan.”

With stiff resistance from the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji and one of the High Chiefs in the Olubadan-InCouncil, Senator Rashidi Ladoja who opposed the development, not a few residents and indigenes of Ibadan had also voiced their opposition to the enthronement of more obas in Ibadan, with the former Governor Ladoja heading to court to challenge Ajimobi’s effrontery.

By this move Ibadan has one Olubadan that becomes the imperial majesty, 11 senior ranking Obas and another 11 Mogajis that now wear beads.

The ascension line to the Olubadan remains unchanged. The Otun and Osi line continue in the historical path to Oba.”

The governor also said the coronation and promotion of the obas have the support of the Ibadan Elders Forum, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Olubadan-in-Council, Mogajis, community leaders and many prominent indigenes of Ibadan noting that all the new obas as stakeholders also desire the elevation and promotion of the Olubadan chieftaincy titles to be in line with modern trend and realities.

The new royal majesties who were on hand to receive their insignia and instrument of office amidst jubilations were: Oba (Senator) Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Eddy Oyewole and the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi.

Others are: the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Amidu Ajibade and the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Kolawole Adegbola.