The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, for the first time in about 17 years held an historic meeting on Tuesday. The last Olubadan to visit the palace was the late Oba Yunusa Ogundipe, who ruled from 1999 to 2007. Oba Adetunji said he visited Alaafin because of the role he played during his installation and coronation as the Olubadan on March 4, 2016. The Olubadan visited the Oyo palace with members of the Olubadan-in-council, other chiefs and prominent sons of Ibadanland.
Among the High Chiefs who accompanied the monarch on the visit were the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun; Balogun of Ibadan, Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Otun Balogun, Dr. Femi Olaife; Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Asipa Olubadan, Chief Eddy Oyewole; Agba-Akin Olubadan, Chief Lekan Alabi; and Ekerin Olubadan, Chief Biodun Daisi.
Olubadan said, “I am here today to say thank you to the Alaafin of Oyo. I came to thank him for his support and for honouring me during my installation and coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadanland. Like the Yoruba would say, if someone gives thank for yesterday’s kindness, he would get another one, so, I am here to thank him so that I will be able to get more of such kind gestures.
Aside from chieftaincy and kingship matter, a lot of people don’t know we (Alaafin Adeyemi and Olubadan Adetunji) are very close. We have known each other for a long time and we have been relating, even when he was still a high chief and a member of the Olubadan-in-Council. This is how we should be doing. Our relationship as Oyo and Ibadan can only get better. In our times, good things will continue to happen in Yorubaland.”