The tension surrounding the elevation of High Chiefs in Ibadanland reached a boiling point over the weekend as Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, alleged a staggering ₦1.5 Billion budget has been earmarked for what he described as a "wasteful" coronation ceremony.
Alli, who has remained a vocal figure in the unfolding traditional reforms, broke his silence on the logistics and financial underpinnings of the exercise, suggesting that the entire process has been reduced to a "theatre performance" by political actors.
The Senator raised serious concerns over the financial transparency of the chieftaincy elevation, claiming that the push for the coronation was driven more by financial interests than traditional necessity.
"You want to blow three different trumpets; you want to blow them for the crown. You have a target you are chasing among them," Alli stated during a gathering of traditional stakeholders.
"Then you say you want to cancel this thing and postpone it to another day, all because of the wasteful spending you want to do—spending 1.5 Billion Naira just to cause a nuisance."
He further alleged that the rescheduling and tactical delays were maneuvers aimed at siphoning public funds under the guise of organizing traditional rites.
Beyond the financial allegations, Senator Alli questioned the legitimacy of the crowning process in the absence of the paramount ruler. Drawing on historical precedents and the wisdom of past leaders, he argued that the current trajectory violates the core tenets of Ibadan tradition.
"Our father, Abiola, told us—he said they don't put a crown on a head that has no leader behind it," the lawmaker remarked. "You, our elders, also see that they have never made someone a king or placed a crown on someone’s head when the King is not present. It should be clear to you that what they are doing today is just like someone performing in a theatre."
While the Senator’s critique was directed at the handling of the ceremony, he was careful to distinguish between the Governor and the "political jobbers" allegedly influencing the administration.
He noted that while he maintains a cordial relationship with the Deputy Governor—whom he described as his "dear elder brother"—there are elements within the political sphere pushing for a confrontation.
"The people pushing the Governor are the problem, because there is no fight between us," Alli clarified. "But since the matter has come out into the open, let’s speak plainly: there is nothing anyone can do to anyone. They won’t bring anyone to come and impose themselves on Ibadan."
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government has not issued a formal rebuttal to the ₦1.5 Billion allegation. However, sources within the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters have previously defended the reforms as a necessary step to modernize the Ibadan traditional hierarchy in line with the 2024 Chieftaincy Law.
With this latest development, the rift between the traditionalists and the political proponents of the new "beaded crowns" appears set to widen, leaving the residents of the ancient city watching closely as the drama unfolds.
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