Obaship Crisis: Lekan Are’s Reconciliatory Committee To Meet Elders, Mogajis, Religious Leaders, Others

The four-month-old Obaship crisis generated by the elevation and installation of 21 new kings in Ibadanland by the Oyo State Government may soon be laid to rest as elders and Mogajis (family heads) has accepted offers by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, to end the brouhaha.

According to Thisday, spokesperson of the Mogajis, Chief Wale Oladoja, explained to
journalists that a meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) convened by a prominent Ibadan elder, Dr. Lekan Are, had kick-started in a way, “that the pride and dignity surrounding the Obaship crisis in Ibadan land will be amicably resolved within the shortest time possible.”

Oladoja said the Reconciliation Committee had Chief Are as Chairman while the President General of the CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye would serve as the Coordinator. The Authentic Mogajis like Alhaji Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko), Chief Abduljelyl Karheem (Mogaji Adanla), Alhaji Moshud Gbolagade (Mogaji Akere), Alhaji Ademola Oladosu (Mogaji Olasomi) are members of the reconciliation committee.

Listed also are former military Administrator of Lagos State, General Raji Rasaki (rtd); a former Commissioner for Information and CCII chieftain, Chief Adegboyega Arulogun; Primate Ola Makinde; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland; Alhaji Dauda Makanjuola; Prof. Adeola Adeyemi; Chief Lere Adigun; Dr. Kunle Oyedele and other eminent elders in Ibadan.

The maiden meeting, according to Oladoja, was held last Thursday evening at Kakanfo Inn Ibadan and had all the aforementioned in attendance.

To sustain the new reconciliation, Oladoja said their camp had agreed to the peace moves in a way that the pride and dignity of Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, as the paramount traditional ruler in Ibadan would be protected.

He said the meeting was successful because of the presence of “respectable and prominent peace-loving Ibadan elders in the meeting.

Oladoja thanked all Ibadan sons and daughters for allowing peace to reign, stressing that “we are still solidly behind Kabiyesi and we shall not waver. We use this opportunity to felicitate with all Ibadans on the Christmas and New Year celebrations. We wish to assure them that truce is on the way and our prayer is that the ongoing reconciliation ends well.

“As true born and Mogajis, we are sheathing our swords especially now that our respected Ibadan elders under the leadership of Dr. Lekan Are had waded in to reconcile the issue and we are ready to give peace a chance. We shall continue to communicate with Ibadan people as family heads,” Oladoja added.