A group of Mogajis under the umbrella of Authentic Ibadan Mogajis regrouped at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Sunday to table a request.

Their request: Oba Adetunji should begin the process of appointing and installing new Mogajis and Baales as he may deem necessary to replace the 21 appointed as Obas by the Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi.

The spokesman of the group, Chief Wale Oladoja, who is the Mogaji Akinsola of Oopo Labiran Ibadan, said the group’s Coordinator, Mogaji Adanla of Adanla Compound, Chief Abduljelil Karimu; Mogaji Abass Oloko of Oloko Compound; Mogaji Fatumo Compound in Oke Bioku, Chief Fatai Olanrewaju; Mogaji Akere, Chief Moshood Akere; Mogaji Aladorin, Chief Wasiu Aderoju; and Mogaji Ademola Olasomi of Elekuro Ibadan were among those in attendance to review the “Current State of things in Ibadanland and more importantly the present lull in the palace”.

According to Oladoja, who was also a former Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited: “We have told our revered Kabiyesi that full activities must commence in the palace without further delay.

He said: “The installation of New Mogajis, Baale and Honorary Chieftaincy titles should begin now because the place of Olubadan as the Paramount ruler of the city cannot be controverted by anyone.

“Prior to the brouhaha that trailed recent elevation or enthronement of some High Chiefs and Baales by the State Government, applications have been submitted to the Kabiyesi, the Olubadan, by some family house steads and concerned villages to fill the vacancies existing in their domains due to the deaths of the former occupants of such positions.

“But unfortunately the Olubadan was taken unaware by the enthronement of the 21 kings and this distracted activities earlier highlighted for the passing weeks.

“But our palace is never a place of mourning and we (the Authentic Mogajis) felt the need to inform Baba to begin full activities in the palace by attending to all the pressing issues like the installation of new Mogajis and Baales to fill the existing vacancies.”

Asked if the Olubadan could go ahead to do so without conveying the meeting of Olubadan-In-Council, which normally involves the High Chiefs, many of who are now kings, Oladoja said: “No, they cannot hold Kabiyesi to ransom because their roles in Ibadan Native Law and Chieftaincy declaration are mere advisory’.

He added: “Oba Adetunji remains the Paramount Ruler, Consenting and Prescribing Authority in the land.”

On the new kings, the Mogajis said: “All the new obas should stop parading themselves as Obas until all the pending court cases are determined.

“We use this opportunity to also advice Oyo State Government headed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to leave all traditional issues for now and concentrate more on how to make life more meaningful for the people of the state.”