A fresh dispute has erupted in Ibadan over the traditional stool of Onido of Ido, with a prominent socio-cultural group strongly criticising a recent intervention by a high-ranking chief.
IBILE Club Condemns Breach of Protocol
The IBILE Club, in a press statement issued on Friday, 9th January 2026, and signed by its President, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, has faulted a statement credited to the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba (Barr.) Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola. The group described the Balogun's comments on the Onido stool as procedurally flawed and disrespectful to the authority of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The organisation expressed deep concern not just about the content of the remarks, but more fundamentally about what it sees as a serious breach of established traditional process and the institutional hierarchy within Ibadanland.
A Matter of Hierarchy and Due Process
According to the IBILE Club, the Balogun Olubadan lacks the authority to make a definitive public pronouncement on the chieftaincy matter, especially since it is already before a committee set up by the Olubadan-in-Council. "The Balogun Olubadan is not the Olubadan of Ibadanland, nor is he vested with unilateral authority to foreclose deliberation on a matter that is already before a duly constituted committee," the statement declared.
The group argued 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 erode the integrity of the entire traditional system.
Government Recognition vs. Customary Authority
The IBILE Club also challenged 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 club's position is clear: 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," Ogundipe stated. He emphasised that the Olubadan's decision to form a committee on the matter is proof that outstanding issues remain unresolved.
A Call to Uphold Tradition
The group was careful to clarify that its stance 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 read.
IBILE Club called on all stakeholders to allow the Olubadan's committee to complete its assignment 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 observers urging caution and strict adherence to established customs to prevent further escalation of tensions.
