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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Olubadan Advisory Council has summoned the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes’ (CCII) and the contractor handling the construction of the new Olubadan’s palace at Oke Aremo, over the slow pace of the project.
CCII is the umbrella body of all the socio-cultural groups in the ancient city. The construction of the new palace is under the supervision of the CCII and had lasted for over a decade.
In a statement issued by the Personal Assistant on Media to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, the council through the Otun Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, expressed dismay at the level of work done on the project which he described as “non-starter.”
According High Chief Ajibola, “last December was the latest date given by the CCII as the completion date and when it would be ready for occupation by the Olubadan. The December date was not the first of such promise, mind you. This time, Olubadan decided to visit the palace to see things for himself and we joined him, but what we saw was a far cry from the promise made by the CCII through its President-General, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga.”
“We are not pleased by what we saw here today. As against the promise of moving to the palace last December which was not possible, the work is a non-starter. At least, if at all the last December date was not feasible as we had all seen, there must be signs that, well, certain things made such impossible and one can be confident that, oh, in a couple of weeks time, the job would be completed.
“But, in this instance, that’s not the case. In fact, with what I saw there today in company of our other members of the Advisory Council, it is certain that before we can near the promise made against last year December, it would be in the next eight or 10 months’ time. So, the question to ask now is that what was the basis of the confidence upon which the CCII has been giving us unrealistic date of completion,” the Otun Balogun queried.
The High Chief, however, explained that the CCII had disclosed that the contractor handling the project was responsible for the slow pace of work.
“It is for this reason that we are summoning both the socio-cultural body and the contractor to a meeting. We want to know where the problem actually lies and after the meeting, there would be a firm position on what we would do as a Council.
“The generality of the Council is not satisfied with the pace of work and that is the truth. We cannot keep waiting upon promise upon promise without any tangible and visible action to show that the project is progressing. We have been inundated with promises of completion since early last year when the Olubadan stool got to Ali Iwo and here we are now, no sign that the place can be occupied in the next 10 months or thereabout,” he added
Members of the Olubadan Advisory Council that joined the monarch on the inspection visit were High Chiefs Tajudeen Ajibola (Otun Balogun), Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun), Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ashipa Olubadan), Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan) and Azeez Abiodun Agagagugu (Ekarun Balogun).
