*Ajimobi, authentic Mojajis, Ibadan elders hold peace meeting
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
President of the apex socio-cultural organization in Ibadanland, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Yemi Soladoye on Friday hinted that the prolonged crisis over the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy laws by the Oyo state government may soon be resolved out of court.
Chief Soladoye dropped this hint while speaking with newsmen after leading a Truth and Reconciliation Committee including the leaders of the authentic mogajis, Chiefs Olawale Oladoja and Abass Oloko to a meeting with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.
The CCII President maintained that
the lingering crisis which reared its ugly head with the installation of 21 new obas by the Oyo State government will soon be settled out of court judging by the ‘cooperation and enthusiasm’ of the contenders in its reconciliation efforts, adding that an amicable resolution, which, would produce no victor nor vanquished was in the offing in the avowed determination of the CCII and respected elders of the land to end the impas
“We are happy that all the stakeholders in the matter have seen the need to embrace peace. Judging by the progress we have made so far in the TRC, I can assure you that the matter will soon be settled out of court judging by the cooperation and enthusiasm of the parties. We have extracted a firm promise from those concerned on the need to withdraw all the court cases in the overall interest of Ibadanland. We are doing everything possible not to jeorpadise the reconciliation process, hence all the stakeholders have been included in the TRC.”he said.
According to Chief Soladoye, the TRC is to conclude its reconciliation efforts by the end of this month and make recommendations that would be satisfactory to all the parties in the crisis.
“We have advised the contenders to stop issuing inflammatory statements capable of dragging back the hand of the clock. You will recall that there had been threats and counter-threats by the 21 obas and the authentic mogajis in recent times. We have no doubt that the issue will soon become history. In the end there will not be no victor nor vanquished. We are meeting with all the stakeholders and we deemed it appropriate to meet with the governor first. We are happy that he is keen on seeing the matter resolved amicably”.
Chief Soladoye emphasized that
membership of the TRC being coordinated by the CCII, included representatives of the elders of the land, religious bodies, retired military officers, recognized mogajis, authentic mogajis and a former Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
The Friday’s meeting with Governor Ajimobi was attended by leaders of the authentic mogajis, Chiefs Olawale Oladoja and Abass Oloko, representatives of Ibadan Elders, Chief Lere Adigun and Gen. Raji Rasaki, respectively.
It will be recalled that the
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, had dragged the Oyo state government to coury following the installation of the 21 Obas Governor Abiola Ajimobi; an action, which, Oba Adetunji said, did not follow the due process and tradition.
