The Olubadan Advisory Council has summoned the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes’ (CCII) and the Contractor handling the project to a meeting over slow pace of work at the new Ibaban Palace under construction at Oke-Aremo in the Oyo State capital.
The Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola disclosed this after the inspection of the new palace project by the Council, led by Olubadan Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II.
CCII, the umbrella body of all the socio-cultural groups in the ancient metropolis, under which care the supervision of the project that had been on for over a decade, was said to have been giving different dates of completion of the first phase of the project and its occupation by the Olubadan but with no any sign suggestive of the fulfillment of such promise.
The council expressed dismay at the level of work done on the project which was described as ‘non-starter’ by High Chief Ajibola while giving the report.
According to him, “last December was the latest date given by the CCII as the completion date and when it would be ready for occupation by the Olubadan.
“The December date was not the first of such a promise, mind you. This time, Olubadan decided to visit the palace to see things for himself and we joined him, but what we saw was a far cry from the promise made by the CCII through its President-General, Prince Oluyemis Adeaga.
“We are not pleased by what we saw here today. As against the promise of moving to the palace last December which was not possible, the work is a non-starter. At least, if at all the last December date was not feasible as we had all seen, there must be signs that, well, certain things made such impossible and one can be confident that, oh, in a couple of weeks time, the job would be completed.’’