News
Chieftaincy gazette not targeted at future Olubadan aspirants – Oyo
The Oyo State government has denied rumours of any plan to obstruct or hinder anyone’s ambition to become the next Olubadan.
The government clarified in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Thursday.
There had been reports in some sections of the media (not The PUNCH) that the newly-released gazette on the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration targeted the aspiration of the present Otun Olubadan of Ibadaland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, especially that it was made public during the coronation ceremony of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on July 12.
The new declaration, passed by the state House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde, was inserted in the programme distributed during the coronation ceremony.
By the rotational setting of the Olubadan chieftaincy arrangement, the Otun Olubadan line, where Ladoja is the most senior, will produce the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, after Oba Olakulehin
Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration stated that “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.”
However, Section 4 of the new law, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” replaced “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
Section 4 of the new law states: “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
The PUNCH reports that Ladoja remained the only High Chief among the recognised kingmakers of Ibadanland who did not wear the beaded crown.
The timing of the public release of the gazette caused controversy in Ibadanland, leading to speculation that the government was out to stall Ladoja’s aspiration to become the Olubadan.
However, the government said it was premature, unfair and preemptive for anyone to start discussions on the next Olubadan when a new Olubadan had just been successfully installed.
Oyelade, in the statement, said: “It is embarrassing that few days after the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, some citizens are already looking over the shoulders of the new Oba and ascribing the government gazette that implemented the recommendation of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to a ploy to disqualify certain individuals.”
It added, “For the avoidance of doubt, the last Olubadan, Ọba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, set up the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to review and deliberate on the needed reforms of the Ibadan Chieftaincy, the extant chieftaincy declaration and composition of the Ibadan land local government traditional councils and make the necessary recommendations.
“After extensive review and deliberations, the committee recommended, among others, that the eleven (11) high chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-In-Council be elevated and approved as beaded crown-wearing Obas.”
The commissioner revealed that the late Oba Balogun, in a signed letter to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, dated February 5, 2023, proposed that the reform be incorporated into the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957.
“A few months later, on the 14th day of July 2023, precisely, the amendments were gazetted.
“The governor did only approve it because it was a legitimate prayer from His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr (Sen.) Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, but also in deference to the tradition and culture of Ibadanland,” the statement said.
The government, therefore, advised the people not to heat the polity, as it would continue to uphold what was right and the cherished tradition and culture of the Ibadan people.
“The government wishes the Olubadan of Ibadanland, HIM Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, good health and wisdom to pilot the affairs of Ibadanland,” the statement added.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a fresh hearing in the legal battle over the disputed Kano Emirate involving Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero.
The Appellate Court, in a judgment delivered on Friday, held that Bayero was denied fair hearing due to the shoddy manner in which a Kano High Court conducted proceedings against him.
Justice Mohammed Mustapha, who delivered the lead judgement, stated that the Kano High Court was unfair to Bayero by conducting proceedings without serving him a hearing notice to enable him to present his case.
Justice Mustapha held that all courts of law are bound to ensure justice for all parties by giving them equal opportunities, adding that the conduct of the proceedings against Bayero amounted to a travesty of justice.
Specifically, the Appellate Court held that Bayero ought to have been served with a hearing notice to allow him to present his grievances before judgment was delivered against him in what it described as a shoddy arrangement.
The Court of Appeal, therefore, ordered that the case be remitted to the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to be reassigned to another judge for expeditious determination.
Justice Mustapha did not award costs against the respondents in the appeal filed by Ahaji Ado Bayero.
Details later.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze N’digbo Worldwide has elected Dim Uche Nnamdi Okwukwu as its new factional President General.
The election, which took place at a convention in Port Harcourt on Thursday night, saw Okwukwu, a legal practitioner and former Secretary General of the group, chosen unopposed.
Okwukwu, from Elele in Rivers State, expressed his gratitude to the delegates and outlined his commitment to addressing the issues facing the Igbo people.
He stated that uniting the fractured Igbo community would be his priority.
His plans include engaging with the government and key stakeholders to seek the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners, as well as pushing for economic and infrastructural development in Igbo areas.
Additionally, he intends to address security concerns, including kidnapping and other forms of violence, and work toward restructuring efforts that involve all ethnic groups.
More to come…
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The recent defection of lawmakers from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC)he member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Obi Aguocha has declared that as it stands Julius Abure is the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP
Obi, an ally to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, stated this while speaking on the recent defection of lawmakers from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the lawmaker, there is no leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party that warrants the defection of the party’s lawmakers.
In an interview with the New Telegraph, Aguocha noted that there is no political party that doesn’t have crisis but the leadership has remained steadfast in finding solutions.
Speaking on the defection, he said: “We have a governor but some people are only fixated on the five decampees.
“They’re my colleagues, and I would not say ill of my colleagues because it was a personal decision they took.
“Some of them have explained their actions in the public domain, and part of what they said was that there is a perceived division in the Labour Party.
There’s no political party, especially the top three in Nigeria, that doesn’t have any issues. APC has their problems. PDP has their problems. The Labour Party, of course, has its problems.
“But the most important thing is that the leadership of Labour Party has remained steadfast in finding solutions to the problems that we have in the Labour Party.
“Yes, our matter has gone through the High Court and is on appeal. I would believe that by the time the court decides as to the direction of the party, then all of us will now know the direction to move.
“But by way of the determination of the court, Julius Abure by determination of the court, whether right or wrong, is the chairman of the party. So, there’s no division in the Labour Party.”
2027 election
Obi Aguocha pointed out that most of these lawmakers who defected come from states that do not have a Labour Party government, so, it’s also an issue of their self-survival.
“They probably maybe under pressure that the election for 2027 is going to be very difficult for them without a helping hand from the state government,” he said.
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