According to Nigerian Tribune, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, on Monday, said he will not shift ground on his comment on the ranking of Obas in Yorubaland.
Nigerian Tribune recalled that Oba Gbadebo had during the visit of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, sometimes in February, said that Ooni of Ife is one of the five principal traditional rulers in Yorubaland in which hierarchy are Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Alake of Egbaland and Awujale of Ijebuland.
But, Awujale not comfortable with the comment, had last Thursday, during the launch of Endowment Fund for a Chair at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, held in Lagos, said the statement credited to the monarch was falsehood and misrepresentation of facts from the Ake Palace.
Addressing a news conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland, Chief Lai Labode, flanked by the Baameto of Egbaland, Chief George Taylor; the Balogun of Ilawo, Chief Adebayo Shoyoye and the Agbaakin of Egbaland, Chief Rasheed Raji, said they have not been goaded into making the statement by Oba Gbadebo or anybody, but to put the records straight.
Labode, in an address signed by the Balogun of Egbaland, Chief Sikirulai Atobatele, submitted that Oba Adetona churned out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable audience during the launch.
The chiefs maintained that Oba Gbadebo quoted a Government Gazette, Colony of Lagos, dated February 20, 1903, to back his statement and not a mere newspaper publication as alleged by the Awujale.
Also, the Council of Chiefs confirmed that the duo of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Oba Adetona made several calls to Alake on whether his claim on the Obaship was not quoted out of context, but which he (Alake) confirmed that he said so and that the ranking issue could be supported by documentary evidence.
“Our concern is predicated on the self-indulgence of our respected monarch to churn out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable Nigerians. In spite of our belief that his audience would have taken his attempt to rewrite contemporary history as his personal views, we feel compelled to state the facts for record purposes.
“The Awujale alleged that Alake quoted wrongly from a 1903 Government Gazette which was a newspaper publication, but, we can say categorically that Oba Gbadebo quoted a Government Gazette, Colony of Lagos, dated Saturday, February 20, 1903. Page 100, paragraph 16. Gazette is a subsidiary legislation which has force of law and therefore a public document available for verification.
“Both Awujale and Oba of Lagos actually called Alake on the ranking of Yoruba Obas, Alake responded that his ranking was supported by documentary evidence and he therefore stands by his position,” the Council of Chiefs added.
The Council of Chiefs noted that the categorisation of the Yoruba traditional rulers was done by the then Ooni of Ife at the Central Native Council Meeting, which was said to be chaired by Sir Williams Macgregor, the then Governor-General, at the Government House, Lagos, in 1937.
Those said to be in attendance were the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Alake of Abeokuta and Awujale of Ijebu-Ode.
The chiefs also addressed the issue on the claim by the Awujale that Alake was a junior traditional ruler under Alaafin at Orile Egba before fleeing to Ibadan for refuge, saying that 20 Alakes had reigned in the Egba Forest prior to the founding of Abeokuta in 1830.
“There was no Alake that fled to, or took refuge in Ibadan. The Egbas arrived and settled in Abeokuta mainly in 1830. The first Alake in Abeokuta was installed in 1854, followed by the Olowu in 1855, Agura in 1870, Osile in 1897 and Olubara came in 1952.
“By the Egba United Government Proclamation of February 1, 1898, approved by the then Governor of Lagos, the Egba cabinet was as follows: The Alake-President; The Osile-Minister of Justice; The Agura-Minister of Communication and Works and the Olowu-Minister of Finance.
“Just as there were the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, the Akarigbo of Sagamu, the Soun of Ogbomoso, the Olowo of Owo, Oba of Lagos and so on, there was the title of “Alake of Abeokuta.
“Alake is only comparable with the Awujale even now that they are both Paramount Rulers and Rotational Chairmen of Ogun State Traditional Council of Obas. Historically speaking, Alake was higher by salary differentials paid by the colonial government,” they said. (Nigerian Tribune)