THE Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, yesterday seized the beads of the Baale of Ido, Chief Tajudeen Akinola Agura, for parading himself as the Onido.
Onido is a major Ibadan less city baale. The title has been in the news in the last 10 years for various traditional and political reasons.
But for Agura yesterday will remain a day to remember as he faced the members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who quizzed him for allegedly parading himself as the Onido though he had been suspended.
After the rilling, the Council affirmed his suspension and seized his beads with a warning to stop parading himself as the Onido, until a final decision is taken on his case.
Wearing a white lace agbada, the chief left the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan in a sober mood.
He was installed in July 2011 after his predecessor, Chief Benjamin Ishola, was deposed for, among others, his crave for a beaded crown.
While Ishola struggled for stronger recognition and a beaded crown, Agura was in court to challenge the former’s occupation of the stool, claiming he (Agura) was the right candidate.
He eventually won in 2011 when the late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1 installed him.
A source said aside the suspension, several petitions hang around Agura’s neck, particularly on alleged land grabbing and related issues.
The source said it would be tough for the suspended baale to wriggle out of the suspension.
Oba Adetunji warned leaders of the Igbo community in Ibadan to subject themselves to the authority of the baales in their domains.
He said Eze Ndigbo must operate within the framework of the Ibadan traditional authority.
The monarch said on no account would the palace attend to the Eze without passing through the baales under who they must subject themselves.
Briefing reporters after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting yesterday, the Asipa Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, said: “We have taken a stance on the principle of upholding Ibadan authority.
“We’ve done many things today on the issue of the man parading himself as Onido who has been suspended.
“The Kabiyesi was of the view that since he has been suspended, he can not go about parading himself as Onido, wearing beads. So, we have seized his beads.
“The second issue was the issue of Eze Ndigbo. In any community, you cannot have two monarchs.
“The only Oba in Ibadan is the Olubadan. So, no other person can call himself his royal highness in Ibadan land.”
Other members of the council in attendance include the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; Osi Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa; the Asipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; the Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun and Chief Lateef Gbadamosi.
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