Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has cautioned village leaders, also called Baales, and compound heads, also called Mogajis, against land grabbing and insubordination to elders within their families.
He issued this warning on Monday when installing two village leaders and nine compound guards in his palace in Oke-Aremo, the capital of Oyo State, Ibadan.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gbenga Ayoade, on Tuesday in Ibadan, further warned them to ensure that peace reigns supreme in their domains as no meaningful development can be achieved without peace.
The newly installed nine Mogajis were Giwa Kamaldeen from Aliwo Compound in the Ibadan Northeast Local Government Area of the state; Kamorudeen Adebimpe of Adebimpe family, Odinjo in the Ibadan Southeast; Muritala Aloba of Aloba family, Inalende in the Ibadan North; Kazeem Rabiu of Akinsumbo Compound, Oke-Balogun Opooyeosa in the Ibadan Northwest and Kadir Farayola, Samonda family, Ile Samonda, Oje in the Ibadan Northeast.
Others were Olukayode Oduntan, Awise of Oduntan Awise Compound, Oke-Offa in the Ibadan Northeast; Abideen Mustapha, Eleko family, Kososi Street, Idi Arere in the Ibadan Southwest; Yinusa Ibilade, Apapa Compound, Labiran in the Ibadan Northeast and Sholagbade Arapaja, Arapaja family, Kudeti in the Ibadan Southwest.
Raimi Edujobi from Edujobi village in the Egbeda Local Government and Morakinyo Fagbemi from Fagbemi village in the state’s Akinyele Local Government Area were the Baales who were installed.
Olubadan, while speaking through Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief (Senator) Sharafadeen Alli, congratulated the recently installed traditional title holders for being deemed deserving to receive the titles.
“You are the accredited representatives of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, therefore, you must ensure that peace reigns supreme in your domains, as no meaningful development can be achieved without peace.
“Desist from any act that can tarnish the reputation of the traditional institution, such as land grabbing, insubordination to elders within your families and oppression of family members whom you represent,” Olubadan warned.
Members of the Olubadan Advisory Council, Taofik Arapaja, the former deputy governor of the state, as well as traditional leaders, religious leaders, business magnates, and well-wishers, were among the dignitaries present.