For the umpteenth time, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II on Wednesday warned his Baales and Mogajis to desist from any form of crime, insisting that their appointment was for the welfare of their people as well as the development of their respective communities and family compounds.
This was contained in a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola on behalf of the monarch in which he was quoted to have also said that the suspension of Onido, Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola by the state government was to pave way for proper investigation into the Ido mining incident and not a declaration of vacancy of the Ido stool.
Olubadan observed that “it is often remarked by our forebears that when masquerades go about without adequate costume, it calls for soul-searching among the members of the masquerade cult. ‘Aini aso lorun egungun, o to apero fun awon omo eriwo’. The current situation in our country as regards security of lives and property calls for serious concern
“We appreciate the government through the security agencies for its efforts so far just as we call for more because for as long as we still have lice on the cloth, it is certain that the nails cannot be rid of blood dripping. ‘Bi ina o ba tan laso, eje o le e tan leekanna’. The war against insecurity is still a work in progress and not until the battle is finally won, we won’t keep quiet.
“On our part at the traditional level, we have a lot to do to complement the efforts of the government. As the closest authority to the people, there’s need for us to be more vigilant. At this juncture, let me sound it loud and clear that the essence of appointing Baales for our local communities is not a license to get involved in crime and criminality, rather, the Baales are appointed to oversee to the overall development of their respective communities”, Olubadan stated.
Arising from the above stated mandate, according to Oba Balogun “is the need to be mindful of the kind of people we harbour or relate with in our domains. It is certain that somebody that would engage in kidnapping successfully must as a necessity be familiar with the environment so as to know where to face when the crime is committed. The question is where are the members of the community while the criminal is engaging in surveillance?
“Equally, who are the people we sell land to? Is it not absurd and unheard of that ‘foreigners’ now acquire our land in acres and hectares from the Baales all in the name of money? Even, the so called developers that now acquire land, how genuine is their intention?
“The palace is aware too that some Mogajis are engaging in land speculations, these they do in connivance with their Baales and at the detriment of the generality of the people. Let it be reiterated that the zero tolerance resolve of the current Olubadan Advisory Council under my leadership for land grabbing remains unshaken and we shall remain unsparing of any identified culprit as we have demonstrated in the recent past”, he added.
Olubadan drew what he called a nexus between his concern and the current crisis rocking Ido community and for which the Onido is being made a scapegoat, adding, “as it is often said, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. We all must have learnt some lessons in the crisis. Be that as it may, the suspension placed on Onido by the state government is to pave way for unhindered investigation and that has not constituted a vacancy for the stool of Onido”.
