The Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba Lekan Balogun has on Monday advised community and village heads to take charge to ensure the safety of lives and properties in their domains by employing local security vigilantes to police their areas, especially during the day time when residents are out on their daily activities.
Oba Balogun Alli Okunmade II, who gave this admonition at the installation of new Baales at the ancient Aliiwo Palace, Agodi in the state capital, further warned community heads against the act of land grabbing.
In a press statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola and which was made available to journalists in Ibadan, the monarch admonished the new Baales to prioritise the security of their subjects in the respective domains, stating that their being made Baales is not without responsibilities.
Part of such responsibilities, according to Olubadan on whose behalf the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade spoke is to ensure the well-being of their subjects and security of their lives and properties should be of utmost concern to you as the heads.
“There’s no way an absentee head in the present circumstance can make any success, so, you must be available to your people”, he said.
The monarch told the Baales not to engage in any act capable of causing disaffection among their subjects like reselling of land previously sold and land grabbing, noting that their appointments were not to oppress their people, but to be the defenders of their rights.
“The present traditional administration in Ibadanland frowns at land grabbing and will not hesitate to wield the big stick of removing any one found engaging in such act”, Olubadan added.
Aside Ekerin Olubadan, other members of the Advisory Council in attendance were Balogun of Ibadanland, Osi-Balogun, Osi-Olubadan and Ashipa Olubadan, Ekarun Olubadan and Ekarun Balogun, High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Eddy Oyewole and Biodun Kola-Daisi, Adebayo Akande and Abiodu Azeez Agagagugu respectively.
In the meantime, the newly installed Baales were Alhaji Lateef Akanji Adegoke (Apena Village), Tajudeen Lasisi Oyeleye (Elerumooke), Elder Solomon Kehinde Ojo (Alabuke Olopomeji), Adepoju Rasheed Afolarin (Efunwole), Amoo Adesina Tajudeen (Apadi), Kamorudeen Adesina Bello (Onidoko), Gabriel Olusoji Ojewole (Olulotan Eleegun), Karimu Shittu Adejumobi Akanbi (Shokelu) and Lanrewaju Aderemi Badmus (Eleetu).