Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II on Monday warned against the presentation of frivolous petitions on chieftaincy issues, asking that family members presenting candidates for the positions of Baale and Mogaji should iron out their differences before making presentations.
Olubadan gave this warning during the installation of some Mogajis and Baales which included a former staffer of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Chief Kayode Bamiduro who became Baale of Isajin in Egbeda Local Government area of the state at the ancient Aliiwo Palace at a function which had in attendance all the members of Olubadan Advisory Council except Otun Olubadan and Ekerin Balogun, High Chiefs Rashidi Ladoja and Olubunmi Dada Isioye respectively.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by Oladele Ogunsola, Personal Assistant (Media) to Oba Balogun, the monarch, on whose behalf the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola spoke at the occasion said “the Olubadan Advisory Council stands for what Kabiyesi stands for which is justice and fairness. Olubadan frowns at frivolous petitions and we his Council members are solidly behind him.
“Our revered father would not take a bribe to pervert the course of justice and we, his Chiefs too would not soil our hands. So, the counsel of Olubadan and his Council members to families presenting candidates for the positions of Mogaji and Baale is to do your homework properly and don’t drag us into your family feud.
“Don’t threaten us with court papers at the point of installation, we are respecters of law, but we are not afraid of court papers”, he stated further.
High Chief Ajibola disclosed that petitions were brought against some of the Chiefs being installed at the occasion, but, both Olubadan and his Council members found no merit in the papers brought, Daily Independent reports.
“For instance, a matter that had been decided at the Court of Appeal aside a firm decision taken on the same issue by a past Olubadan decades ago was freshly taken to the High Court and wanted to use such to halt our action? That’s frivolity at its best which we have no room for in our operations”, he said.
Baale Isajin, Chief Bamiduro, who reacted on behalf of other newly installed Chiefs expressed gratitude to God for making the occasion possible against all odds just as he praised Olubadan and his Advisory Council members for their fatherly roles with a promise to follow all the advice and instructions given to them during their installations.