Mr Adeola Oloko, the media aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu
Adetunji, says the reported removal
of the Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Chief Labake Lawal,
has not
been presented to the
traditional ruler for his assent.
Oloko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that the formal
process of removing the Iyaloja has therefore not been completed.
He said that the monarch has the authority to ratify both the deposed Iyaloja and the new
candidate as presented by the
traders’ association through the Iyalode
of Ibadanland, Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.
Explaining the formal process, Oloko said that the association would brief the Iyalode of
Ibadanland of their decision to remove an Iyaloja, and she would in turn brief the monarch about the development.
He said that the Iyalode is responsible for vetting the process of removal and recommendation of a new
candidate for presentation to the
Olubadan for ratification.
Oloko declared that the process will not be completed until
the ratification by the Olubadan.
Mixed reactions had trailed the removal of Lawal over allegations
of fraud and high handedness.
The traders at their recent
congress told newsmen that the Olubadan had ratified the removal of Lawal as Iyaloja.
But Lawal told NAN that she
remains the Iyaloja of Ibadanland, insisting that it was only the Olubadan that has the
authority to remove her.
She stated that she still enjoyed the support of the Olubadan and threatened
to sue the traders over what she considered her illegal removal.
“As far as I am concerned, I am still the Iyaloja of Ibadanland and I
have contacted my lawyer to sue anyone who takes any contrary action,” she said.
NAN also reports that the Olubadan
was reported to have told the traders at a meeting on Nov. 28, 2016 that
he has the authority to ratify removal
and appointment of a new Iyaloja of
Ibadanland.
The monarch was quoted to have said at the meeting that affairs concerning traders were under the purview of the Iyalode of
Ibadanland at the Olubadan-in-Council.
The Iyalode of Ibadanland, after
the meeting, told the traders that the
choice of a new Iyaloja was theirs and the ratification would come from the monarch.
She urged the traders to take a decision on the matter for ratification by the monarch.
Alhaji Dauda Oladepo, the president of the traders’ association,
had told Abiodun that Lawal was unanimously removed by congress at the
group’s meeting
0 Comments