Elevate Baales To Obas, Group Tells Makinde

Maja -Maja Indigenous Group (MMIG), a socio-cultural group which consists of indigenes of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde of the state to elevate some notable Baales in Ibadan to Obas.

The group noted that this was necessary to allow the Olubadan of Ibadanland attain the status of ‘Imperial Majesty.’

The group made the appeal in a statement signed by its President, Abdulkabir Akinpelu and the Secretary, Aderemi Adebisi.

It said that the promotion of the Baales of adjoining communities to the position of lesser kings under Olubadan and other Ibadan High Chiefs would make Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement a unique one.

The duo in the statement made available to First Weekly Magazine in Ibadan, said that history had revealed that Baales of some communities under Ibadan used to be addressed as Obas.

It added that those communities have been agitating for the recognition of their Baales as Obas for decades and that the reform introduced by the immediate past governor, the late Abiola Ajimobi was not totally bad.

They advised Makinde that the reform must not be thrown into the dustbin of history.

“However, we want the Governor to consider some areas in the Ajimobi’s reform that will still be good for Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement.

“Elevation of Baales to the position of lesser kings under Olubadan and High Chiefs will allow the new Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Lekan Balogun to fully attain the ‘Imperial Majesty’ status.

“History has revealed that some Baales of some communities under Ibadan used to be addressed as Obas in the past before being conquered by Ibadan.

“And they have been agitating for recognition as Obas for decades,” the group stated.

The group also advised the Olubadan-In-Council to work with the government in other to bring the expected elevation of the Olubadan stool and that if nothing is done to elevate the Baales, then the Olubadan should revert to ‘Royal Highness’ status.

“We don’t know why governor Seyi Makinde failed to consult the people who are conversant with history to resolve the issue,” the group added in the statement.

-Kunle Bakare.