Iyaloja-General: Do Not Take Ibadan Liberality For Granted, We Stand By Due Process — CCII Warns Folashade Abeo

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has waded into the crisis rocking the tussle of the Iyaloja-General of Oyo State, saying the body stands by merit, competence, due process, and a level playing ground for all contenders.

CCII said as a peace-loving socio-cultural organization, it had played a neutral role by interacting with the two contenders to ensure that peace reigns in Ibadanland, Oyo State, and Nigeria as a whole.

 

A statement by CCII President-general, Barr. Niyi Ajewole stated that CCII would not close her eyes, while some people are fanning the ember of animosity that would disrupt the pleasant atmosphere of peace that Ibadan and Oyo State are enjoying.

CCII condemned the discriminatory statement against Ibadanland by Folashade Abeo, saying Ibadan liberalism should not be taken for granted and Ibadan indigenes would not fold their hand while some people, out of undue envy, hatred, and desperate lust for power gang up to discriminate, intimidate, and wage war against its daughter, Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje.

Abeo in a statement said, “Oyo state belongs to all zones in the state, so, it would be fair, just, and equitable if another zone is allowed to produce the state’s Iyaloja general, given that the Oyo state government has formally recognized Mr. Y.K. Abass as the Babaloja General, who is from Ibadan.”

But CCII maintained that an Ibadan man is the Babaloja of Oyo State doesn’t preclude an Ibadan daughter from becoming Iyaloja of Oyo State if Konibaje is eligible, qualified, accepted and the emergence followed the due process.

“If indigenes from the same town or city of Oyo State emerged as Babaloja and Iyaloja of Oyo State, so be it. Ibadan people will not have any cause to oppose it, in as much as it is based on merit and the due process followed.”

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the raging disagreement amongst the traders and artisans in Oyo State generally, concerning the issue of Iyaloja in General of Oyo State, by our understanding, the tussle is between two contenders, namely, Alhaja (Princess) Azeezat Folashade Nurudeen and Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje.”

“Observably, the tussle is causing ripples amongst the traders and artisans, in a way that is degenerating to the extent that it has led to divisions, with each of the contenders having factions.”

“The particular aspect of the tussle that is giving the Central Council Of Ibadan Indigenes concern is the unhealthy and despicable sentiment being introduced to the matter, whereby, members of a faction are hinging their opposition against one of the contenders, namely Alhaja Saratu Aduke Konibaje on the fact that she is an indigene of Ibadan, to this, we take very serious, exception, that discrimination is very invidious, insulting and inflammatory.”

“The generality of the Central Council Of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the voice of Ibadan sons and daughters worldwide wish to say emphatically and unequivocally, that, it is incontrovertible, that, Ibadan people are the most liberal, accommodating, and hospitable in Western Nigeria, if not in Nigeria as a whole.”

“The humongous size of Ibadan City notwithstanding, the indigenes have not been using it to intimidate anyone in whatever form, the liberalism of Ibadan people is notable in many ways: Massive and indiscriminate selling of land to non-indigenes.”

“Except for traditional titles, Ibadan people do not care, who holds what office, in as much the person doesn’t do anything to bring the integrity of Ibadan to disrepute.”

“None indigenes had held and still holding political offices in Ibadanland to the posts as high as the office of Local Government Chairman. No town or city in Oyo State has such a magnanimous record.”

“In professional and other groups, none Ibadan indigenes are conveniently holding positions of leadership without unwarranted antagonism, from any quarters such is the generous liberalism of Ibadan and her people.”

“Given the foregoing, we enjoin all parties involved to allow peace to reign and let the government decide on the matter as may be necessary, we humbly call on the government to fairly intervene, no discrimination, based on envious and hateful sentiment would be accepted.

Recall, as It’s in the public domain that, following the intervention of the state government, Abeo and Konibaje were subjected to an election supervised by the State government, seven blocks supported Konibaje while the remaining two supported Abeo.

The late Alaafin of Oyo chose Abeo as the Iyaloja-General, no monarch has the power to choose a market leader, it is only the market men and women who are at liberty to choose their leaders.

That was the reason why Olubadan of Ibadanland chose Alhaji Yekini Abass as the Babaloja-General of Oyo state, Abass still had to go into an election, through due process, and win before the government approved.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who is a peace-loving governor should as a matter of urgency do the needful by ratifying the product of the due process election before this issue generates to crisis.