‘ It’s the Best’, Salis Lauds Ibadan Chieftaincy Succession

High Chief Owolabi Salis has commended the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, for endorsing the decision of the Olubadan-in-Council to make Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, an ex federal lawmaker, the new Olubadan of Ibadan.

The Ikorodu-born indigene of Lagos State,who is also the Olori Eyo Agere of Lagos and Jagun Bashorun of Ibadanland, conferred on him by the late Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, observed that Makinde did not allow any political consideration or prejudicial narrow preferences of any sort to unilaterally tamper with the democratic nomination of the new Olubadan-in-waiting, in accordance with the equitable tradition of established rules of Royal succession.

The lawyer-politician who in 2019,contested for governorship of Lagos State, on the platform of Alliance For Democracy, congratulated the newly nominated Olubadan for his remarkable sense of resilience, coupled with the Divine grace which has sustained him through the traditionally instituted hierarchy, to eventually become the Olubadan of Ibadanland,while praying that Almighty God may bestow him with wisdom, strength and long life, not only to preside over the throne of his ancestors, but also contribute to the growth of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Ikorodu-born Jagun Bashorun of Ibadanland commended the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law of Royal succession, describing it as the best among other existing systems and therefore worthy of emulation in view of its all-inclusive embrace, which entitles every indigenous family in the land to aspire for the royal throne, by rising through a traditionally instituted system of hierarchy.

The lawyer therefore described the hierarchical succession as a salute to the wisdom of the ancestral
forebears of Ibadanland in socio-political engineering in view of the unifying and integrative effects arising from the equalitarian all-inclusive access to the throne.

“In a socio-cultural setting in which every family of indigenes each has equal rights and entitlements to royal succession, the all-inclusive arrangement not only brings about a sense of belonging but also prevents a royal superiority complex in which the exclusive royal aristocrats would look down on others as inferior. This is indeed the beauty of Ibadan royal succession, and a salute to the creative imagination of the founding fathers of Ibadanland”

“Even some kings in several kingdoms all over, are elevated and ranked over those in other kingdoms, thus creating the impression that one king is superior while the other king is inferior, while in many states of the federation, a king would be vested to preside permanently as chairman over other kings.

“Though I came from a Royal family in Lagos State, yet I cannot but jettison all sense of pride and give kudos to the equalitarian principles of democracy endemic in the Ibadan process of Obaship selection in which a Mogaji is appointed in diverse family Quarters known in the traditional yoruba parlance as “Agbo ile”. From Mogaji,you stand the chance to be elevated to the Olubadan Chieftaincy line. Thus when the reigning Olubadan dies the next Chief follows in order of seniority.

“This is why as the ceremonial Jagun Bashorun of Ibadanland, conferred on me by Oba Saliu Adetunji, popularly called Baba Agarawu, during his residency in Lagos,and also the promoter of musical icons like Wasiu Ayinde ,I feel so honored and privileged to be associated with Ibadan.”