The 21 newly crowned high chiefs yesterday visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and held a closed-door meeting with the monarch at his Popoyemoja Palace in Ibadan.
The high chiefs, crowned by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, arrived at the palace at about 12.15 p.m. without crowns in separate vehicles.
Some 20 minutes later, the Olubadan, who was clad in blue ‘Aso Ofi’ and white crown and half shoe to match, received them with open arms amid songs, drum-beat and trumpet sound.
They later went into a closed-door meeting, which lasted for about 40 minutes after which reporters and camera men were called in to ask questions and take pictures.
Although details of the meeting remained sketchy, the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, said the meeting was at the instance of Ibadan elders “who thought we should come together in the interest of the town and without prejudice to the case in court to resolve our differences.”
He said they agreed to be holding the Olubadan-in-Council meeting every two weeks now as they were doing before the crisis.The next meeting will hold on August 19, this year.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan, who thanked the returning high chiefs for coming, noted that his support for reconciliation was premised on the need for unity, progress and solidarity of Ibadan.
The monarch said he was all out to protect the returning high chiefs, adding that there was abundant evidence that they were being trapped where they went.
Things fell apart between the Olubadan and the high chiefs when Ajimobi reviewed the Olubadan Chieftaincy Law and crowned them in a day.
Oba Adetunji and former governor of the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, kicked against it and challenged the decision in court. The lower court ruled in the favour of the appellants but the decision is already being challenged at the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan by the state government.
