A fresh controversy has erupted in Ibadanland over the traditional stool of the Onido of Ido, with a prominent socio-cultural group, the IBILE Club, publicly challenging a recent statement made by the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola.
IBILE Club Condemns Breach of Protocol
In a press statement issued on Friday, 10 January 2026, and signed by its President, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, the IBILE Club described the Balogun's public pronouncement on the chieftaincy matter as "procedurally flawed and disrespectful to the authority of the Olubadan of Ibadanland." The group expressed deep concern over what it sees as a significant breach of established traditional process and the institutional hierarchy that governs Ibadanland.
The club argued that the Balogun lacks the unilateral authority to make definitive public declarations on the Onido stool, especially since the matter is currently under review by a committee constituted by the Olubadan-in-Council. "The Balogun Olubadan is not the Olubadan of Ibadanland, or is he vested with unilateral authority to foreclose deliberation on a matter that is already before a duly constituted committee," the statement read.
Defending Tradition and Due Process
The IBILE Club emphasized that no individual chief, regardless of rank or seniority, has the right to pre-empt or undermine an investigative process established by the Olubadan. It warned that such actions represent institutional indiscipline and threaten to erode the integrity of the entire traditional system.
Furthermore, the group found it "improper and unprecedented" that what it termed a "definitive verdict" on such a sensitive local dispute was issued from outside Nigeria while a formal inquiry, sanctioned by the Olubadan's authority, is ongoing at home. "Ibadan tradition is clear: hierarchy is respected, consultation is mandatory, and restraint is expected," the statement asserted.
Government Action vs. Customary Authority
The club also addressed claims that the issue had been conclusively settled through executive actions by past and present governors of Oyo State, including the late Abiola Ajimobi and the incumbent, Governor Seyi Makinde. The IBILE Club firmly stated that government recognition does not override customary authority or extinguish legitimate traditional concerns within Ibadanland.
"Government actions do not stop the Olubadan-in-Council from exercising oversight. The assertion that there is no dispute is premature," said Ogundipe. He pointed out that the Olubadan's decision to form a committee is itself proof that outstanding issues remain unresolved. Any attempt to declare the controversy settled through media pronouncements, the group stressed, runs contrary to Ibadan's long-standing culture of decorum and internal conflict resolution.
The IBILE Club clarified that its position is not a personal attack on any monarch, including the former Governor of Oyo State, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja. "This is not a contest against any individual. It is a call to uphold the sanctity of the Olubadan institution, which can only endure when its internal discipline is preserved," the statement explained.
The group's final call was for all stakeholders to allow the Olubadan's committee to perform its duties without intimidation, pre-judgment, or external interference. It insisted that respect for due process is the cornerstone of Ibadan's traditional governance. "The committee must be allowed to do its work. That is the Ibadan way," the statement concluded.
The Onido of Ido stool has been a subject of intense debate in Ibadan's traditional circles recently, with many observers urging caution and strict adherence to established customs to prevent further escalation of tensions.
