Reprieve came the way of Onido of Ido, Oba Muritala Gbolagade Babalola as Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II on Monday declared the issue of his removal as being sought for by some people as uncalled for.
Oba Balogun made this declaration at the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting held at his Alarere residence presided over by him and which had in attendance all the members of the Council except Balogun of Ibadanland and Ekarun Olubadan, Obas Owolabi Olakulehin and Bayo Akande respectively.
It would be recalled that Oba Babalola is currently on suspension by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, FNSE over alleged involvement in illegal mining in his locality, a development that has reawakened the call for his total removal and reinstatement of the removed Onido, Chief Benjamin Ademola Isola, Orobiyi.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by Oladele Ogunsola, the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oba Balogun was quoted to have said that the matter should be left at it is.
A couple of days ago, the monarch, through media report, it would be recalled declared that there’s no vacancy as far as the Onido Stool is concerned and the declaration at yesterday’s Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting was a corroboration of that earlier statement as enunciated by Chief Lateef Alade, the Personal Assistant on Chieftaincy Matters to the Olubadan when asked to expatiate on the matter.
The aide to the Olubadan further acknowledged receipt of apology letter written by Chief Benjamin Ademola Isola to the Olubadan, seeking his pardon and reinstatement as Onido, a move said to be predicated on the current travails of the current Onido, noting that the decision by the Olubadan was the best in the present circumstance.
According to him, “the Ido matter is not that simplistic. For the avoidance of doubt, the current Onido is the third and all of them are still alive. In fact, one of them, the person that succeeded Chief Isola and the predecessor of Oba Babalola is presently in court over the same stool. So, it is something that needs caution and that’s why the decision by Olubadan must be applauded”.
