A group of local chiefs under the aegis of Ibadan Authentic Mogajis on Wednesday warned individuals and group of persons against inciting authorities against any of their members for peace to continue to reign in the land.
They made their position known in a press statement jointly signed by executives of the authentic Mogajis which include Chief Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko), Chief Abduljellil Karheem (Mogaji Adanla), Alhaji Moshud Gbolagade (Mogaji Akere), Alhaji Ademola Oladosu (Mogaji Olasomi) and Mogaji Wale Oladoja (Mogaji Akinsola compound). It was issued after an emergency meeting held at the Oja’ba palace of Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
They queried the notion of the said Kano-based Prince on matters affecting the chequered history of age-long traditional institution in Ibadan.
Citing a news item in a national daily (not Daily Trust) where a certain Prince Muji Armstrong-Bello based in Kano faulted their recent position against the sacked 21 kings to toe the path of honour and respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by obeying the court’s judgment which voided their elevation to kingship status, the Mogajis warned that it had not violated any law by issuing such appeal to the affected chiefs.
Armstrong-Bello had viewed the recent threat by the Mogajis to the sacked Obas to stop wearing beaded crowns "as provocative and inciting and warned that unless the law enforcement agencies be on top of the situation on ground, there is a looming breakdown of law and order."
But the Mogajis decried such position in their statement which read in parts: "A certain faceless Prince Muji Armstrong-Bello is unknown to us as family heads in Ibadan land. The name itself looks so funny; the only renowned figure in that family house is our revered father, the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, a well respected figure in the society.
"But our position remains that there should be due process on the ascension to the throne of Olubadan. If our father Lekan Balogun were to be the Olubadan today, we will stand against those wanting to usurp his powers. And we don’t care if Kabiyesi Oba Adetunji romances the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, what we are after is due process. And nobody no matter how highly placed can threaten our spokesman, Mogaji Wale Oladoja, a man of impeccable character who stands for justice at all times. He is a true son of Ibadan and a patriot in our struggle.
"Our prayer is for justice to prevail. No war again in Ibadan land. All we are praying for in Ibadan land is for abundance of foods and all good things for our people to live a worthy life and enjoy democratic dividends as promised by those in authority. We are not inciting anybody against all our revered fathers and we can’t desecrate traditional institutions as alleged in the report.
"Somebody who lives in Kano should mind his utterances and understand that we have lawyers among the senior high chiefs and those sacked by the court. All of them know the interpretation of the law and we know they won’t go against the position of the court. The matter in Appeal court is not for stay of execution," the Mogajis maintained.