A chieftain political in Oyo state, Abdulrasheed Bisi Olopoeyan, has described the recent pronouncement at Mapo Hall regarding the elevation of some Ibadan High Chiefs to Obaship status as largely ceremonial, insisting that the affected High Chiefs had already attained the status of Obas by virtue of their positions in the traditional hierarchy.
Olopoeyan, speaking during a radio interview in Ibadan, maintained that similar elevation of other high chiefs in the past when they were in line followed similar well-established and legally backed order within the Ibadan traditional system, leaving little to the discretion of any pronouncement made at the event.
According to him, “Once you attain a certain rank within the Ibadan chieftaincy structure, your elevation is automatic and everything regarding the new status apply to you.
“What happened at Mapo was simply a formal acknowledgement of what had already been established and settled by the Ibadan tradition and chieftaincy law.”
He explained that the Ibadan traditional system is unique for its structured and predictable line of succession, which ensures that individuals ascend through clearly defined ranks until they attain the position of Oba.
In this context, he noted that Obas like Sarafadeen Alli and the two others had effectively become monarchs the moment they reached the qualifying rung in the hierarchy.
Olopoeyan also took a swipe at critics of the state government, describing those faulting Governor Seyi Makinde over the installation ceremony as mischief makers.
He pointed out that the same Deputy Governor who represented the governor at the recent ceremony had previously performed similar roles when the Olubadan-designate was crowned as an Oba prior to his eventual ascension to the throne of his forebears.
He argued that insinuations of political interference were unfounded, stressing that it would be misplaced for anyone due for elevation to assume that the government could be arm-twisted for political convenience.
“The process is guided by law and tradition, not by pressure or mere sentiment,” he said.
The PDP stalwart further questioned why critics had focused narrowly on the three newly crowned Obas without considering the broader implications for the Ibadan chieftaincy ladder.
According to him, halting the elevation would have disrupted the delicate order of progression across the royal lines.
“Each rung on the ladder affects another.
If you stall one, you stall many. The question is, how long should the government and Ibadanland wait for individuals before acting in line with the provisions of the Chieftaincy laws?” he queried.
Olopoeyan maintained that delaying the process would have created a bottleneck capable of distorting the long-established succession framework, warning that such hesitation could trigger avoidable tension within the traditional system.
He commended Governor Makinde for demonstrating leadership and courage in taking what he described as necessary but potentially unpopular decisions.
He added that allowing the elevation order to proceed without obstruction was critical to preserving the integrity of the Ibadan traditional institution.
According to him, Obas like Senator Alli and the two others could have inadvertently held back the system if the government had failed to act decisively.
“The state has a responsibility to ensure that the flow of succession is not hindered. What was done was to keep the system moving as it should,” he said.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports that the elevation of the new Obas, which took place at Mapo Hall, has continued to generate public discourse, with differing interpretations emerging over the role of government and tradition in the conferment of Obaship titles in line with Ibadan chieftaincy laws.