The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Tuesday said the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, and the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, were not telling the truth in a statement credited to them that the Olubadan did not carry along the Olubadan-in-Council in his (Olubadan’s) recent decisions concerning the conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals.

Members of the Olubadan-in-Council had last week dissociated themselves from the decision of the Olubadan to appoint Iswat Ameringun as the new Iyaloja of Ibadan after the Olubadan removed Chief Labake Lawal from the office.

The high chiefs also distanced themselves from the installation of a former Secretary to the State Government in Oyo State and an ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, as the Mayegun of Ibadan.

This was the first time that the Olubadan would be responding to the allegations after he had chosen to be silent on the matters.

In a press statement signed by the monarch’s Director, Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan said he could not have made the decisions without the knowledge of his high chiefs.

The monarch added that the role of the high chiefs was ‘basically advisory’, stressing that he was not an absolute monarch and, as such, was not authoritarian, ‘contrary to speculations’.

In the statement, Oloko said, “According to Oba Adetunji, how else do you carry your lieutenants along other than following the established procedure for the appointment of chiefs by tabling the matter and calling for a dispassionate discussions in the council? Specifically referring to the appointment of Chief Mrs Ameringun as the Iyaloja of Ibadan and Chief Olakojo as Mayegun of Ibadan, Adetunji maintained that the high chiefs were duly carried along before and during the chieftaincy installation ceremonies.”