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The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has lauded the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and members of Olubadan-in Council for resolving the Chieftaincy Declaration crisis that lasted about one year.
The party, in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Media Relations, Alhaja Quadrat Folasade Adewoyin in Ibadan, stated that the council meeting held at the Olubadan’s palace on Monday is a sign of good things to come.
READ: UPDATE: One year after, Olubadan, High Chiefs, finally hold council meeting (See what transpired)
The Olubadan and the High Chiefs had been locked in a bitter battle followmg the review of the Ibadan chieftaincy law by the state government and the consequent elevation of the High Chiefs to obas. While the Olubadan and the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja challenged the review in court and won, the state government launched an appeal.
As a result of the crisis, the new king stopped attending the traditional meetings of the Olubadan-in-Council at the residence of the Olubadan and opted for the Mapo Hall, which the Olubadan rejected and never attended.
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Following the intervention of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and other eminent personalities from the city, the warring sides dedided to sheath their swords on Sunday with a meeting between the Olubadan, Ladoja and Oba Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan who had been leading the High Chiefs.
The ADP noted in its statement that the resolution will help the city put the crisis behind and confront other challenges. The party commended the Olubadan for his fatherly disposition and lauded the High Chiefs for shifting grounds.
Part of the statement reads: “The Action Democratic Party acknowledges that many crisis in our communities are nipped in the bud by the intervention of our Obas and Chiefs and we therefore shall make all provisions that will make them to continue to play this laudable role, including the preservation of our cultural heritage.
“A government of the Action Democratic Party will rely on the wise counsel of our Obas and chiefs on issues of governance because they are close to the grassroots and they daily feel the pulse of our people at the grassroots. All constitutional provisions on the welfare of our Obas will be respected and government will show them the respect deserving of their positions, in words and conduct.
“The Action Democratic Party advises the Oyo State Government to show respect to “traditional institutions in words and conduct”, in deference to our cultural heritage which the Obas and Chiefs represent.”