Yorubaland was premised on #TrueFederalism. Even the British colonial thugs respected and supported Yoruba expression of True Federalism. Here is Ibadan way of doing things which is not the same with any other Yoruba sphere: "The republican system of Obaship was firmly established in 1851, when Oyesile Olugbode succeeded Opeagbe as the Baale of Ibadan and Ibikunle became the Balogun, Sunmola Laamo became the Otun Baale while Ogunmola was installed ‘the Otun Balogun’. The innovation became a regular feature whereby, there evolved two separate Chieftaincy lines namely: Baale line and Balogun Isoriki line. The Baale title gave the holder mainly the civic responsibility while the Balogun line comprised of war Chiefs held purely military titles. According to Rev. Johnson, “a strong government thus emerged not only because Ibadan continually engaged in warfare but partly because those who flocked to Ibadan completely identified themselves with the new town”. The Traditional Council (Igbimo Ilu), before the advent of the colonial administration was the supreme organ of State while in the exercise of power, the Baale was the Chief Executive. Its membership was made up of High Chiefs from both Baale line and the Balogun line, and council decisions on most issues were final. Among the most important issues deliberated upon were; Diplomacy, War, Custom, Duties, Appointment, Promotions and Discipline of Chiefs, Military and Security. The Council had no staff of its own, rather, it relied on those of the ruled for administrative functions, on the masses for mob actions (e.g. the devastation plundering of compounds of offenders). The Council had no treasury; the wealth of the state was kept in the private purses of political elites. As a strategy of effective administration, the colonial government inaugurated the Ibadan Town Council in August 1897. The main objective was to make use of the indigenous Chief in the administration of their town, though they were functioning under the authority of the British Administration. Between 1897 and 1901, the Council comprised the Baale, Otun Baale, Osi Baale, Balogun and eight (8) to twelve (12) other High Chiefs traditionally regarded as the most powerful. A number of changes were introduced in 1901 as a result of the Native Council Ordinance of 1901 initiated by Governor (Sir) William MacGregor. The Baale became the president of the Council while the Resident was only to advise when necessary. Three educated elites were also allowed to be members of the Council namely; The Right Reverend James Okuseinde, Messrs Foster and Adetoun. Rulers of Ibadan were generally referred to as Baale until 1936, when the title of Olubadan was resuscitated and substituted for that of Baale because the title of ‘Baale’ was common and did not befit the ruler of an important town such as Ibadan. In 1946, the Ibadan Native Authority made a declaration under the Native Law and Custom regarding the appointment of a new ruler of the town that Balogun eventually ceased to be the only successor to the Baale. Part of the Declaration made in 1946 read thus: “The holder of any title in either the Olubadan line or the Balogun line in the rank of senior Chief shall be eligible for the post of Olubadan, but the two lines shall succeed in turn. In the event of a vacancy occurring, Chiefs in the line from which the late holder was promoted shall not be eligible”. The Chieftaincy declaration was incorporated into the Chiefs Law of 1957 section 4 (3) and it went further to treat the eleven members of Olubadan."
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 05:40:25 +0000
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