Monday 28 August 2017

32 BEADED KINGS, 32 QUESTIONS - Arasi Kolapo

Ibadan the land of warriors, I hail thee, the third largest city in Africa and the capital city of old and present Oyo State, in the majesty of the almighty he created Ibadan with good terrain, flourishing pasture, and other beautiful elements of nature making her exceptionally outstanding in the league of cities.

The people of Ibadan are wonderful in their creation and culture, their excellence at businesses, their love for education, political mastery and intellectual dynamism, unprecedented spirit of accommodation and socialisation, avid support for sport and highly devoted respect for their constituted traditional institute of authority.

Ibadan has gone through a lot of developmental metamorphosis from the days when it used to be military garrison, to the days when each generals and warlords carved territory for themselves at strategic places each been the paramount ruler of his territory.

There was once a time when all territory became unified under one leader, there was a time when Ibadan was ruled by Baales until we started having kings.The regulation law for the exalted throne of Olubadan is 1959 Olubadan Cheiftancy declaration which has been reviewed four times in 1974, 1981, 1993 and 2000.

It appears the review is not a novel idea, then why the fuss over this recent review?

In the seemingly perfect presentations of past reviews, none created new kings and that is the reason for the fuss.

The traditional institute of Ibadan has received great admiration for her uncontroversial system of attaining kingship, and ever no town or city have been so lucky to be founded by the "Ose Meji" ifa corpus prescribed for Lagelu (Oro Apata Maja) when he was leaving Ife Kingdom.

Two distinctive quality that has been the pride of we Ibadan indigenes for generations.

"Heritages are meant to be preserved not destroyed" If you agree with this saying, then blame not the numerous Ibadan indigenes of different social class and calibre who were opposed to this new review.

It shows we are conscious of our history and heritage, and we would have to convinced beyond doubts that a change to the history and heritage we hold with high esteem is by all means necessary.

When a change would occur to the Ibadan kingship system that has been the envy of others, it is normal that the citizens would react as the number one thing we are most afraid of is Change.

Civil disorder they say is the disease of Ibadan, but no civil disorder has occurred so far on the newly installed kings, although in this technology age media disorder can't be totally contained.

This piece is not meant to add to the already existing media disorder but the curiosity in my mind strokes my pen on paper.

Looking critically into all reasons citied by the Governor for conquering the fear of change in installing these new Obas and making a great change to the 1959 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, I believe he deserves a locomotive applause and the best oratory praise.

At the juncture where I have exhausted my fathom pill about the 32 new beaded and crown wearing kings, I ask the following questions.

1) How will having more than one king help Ibadan's quest for development?

2) What does the number of kings in a town or city has to do with state creation?

3) What good does entourage of kings following Olubadan to functions do Ibadan?

4) How does semantics elevate a throne?

5) What is the historical basis for the new kings?

6) What happens to Olubadan in council?

7) Are they just ceremonial Kings or   Kings with the authority of a king?

8) What is the class rating of these Obas?

9) Why won't a king have total dominion over his territory?

10) Who would be the chiefs of these kings?

11) What happens to the statutory power of Olubadan to uninstall a chief?

12) Why is that there was no traditional rites for these kings?

13) What was the yardstick that qualified some Baales as king?

14) Who install Baales in these new kingdoms, Olubadan or the new kings?

15) The king collects a certain percentage of the allocation that comes to the local government under his territory, what would happen to that arrangement?

16) What is in it to gain for the peculiar masses of Ibadan?

17) How sincere is this action?.......

"Ipaja once claimed he had more than one wife, people exclaimed Haa!. They asked him to name them. He said Yanibo, the people replied that's one. He said until it can be proved Yanibo is not my wife, then would I name the others"

In lieu of these let the remaining 15 questions be kept until there are convincing answers to the 17 asked.

"The head of a baby can take a knock, but what happens after the knock is what can't be predicted".

Let the new kings enjoy their title while we patiently observe as events unfold.

May the labours of our great ancestors never be in vain, Ibadan is great and would be great forever.

"If Olubadan wears shorts, we know the class he belongs"

God bless Oduduwa Republic!!!
God bless Ibadan!!!
Long live Olubadan!!!

Arasi Senior Kolapo

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