Protect Your Communities, Olubadan Tells New Chiefs

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II has charged new heads of communities known as ‘Baales’ to ensure the safety of lives and properties in their domains.

The monarch who gave the charge at the installation of new Baales at the ancient Aliiwo Palace, Agodi in the state urged them to employ local security vigilantes to police their areas, especially during the daytime when residents are out on their daily activities.

The monarch admonished the new Baales to prioritise the security of their subjects in the respective domains, stating that their being made Baales is not without responsibilities.

Part of such responsibilities, according to Olubadan on whose behalf the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade spoke, “is to ensure the well-being of your subjects and security of their lives and properties should be of utmost concern to you as the heads.

“There’s no way an absentee head in the present circumstance can make any success, so, you must be available to your people.”

He told the Baales not to engage in any act capable of causing disaffection among their subjects like reselling of land previously sold and land grabbing, noting that their appointments were not to oppress their people, but to be the defenders of their rights.

“The present traditional administration in Ibadanland frowns at land grabbing and will not hesitate to wield the big stick of removing any one found engaging in such an act”, Olubadan added.

The newly installed Baales were Alhaji Lateef Akanji Adegoke (Apena Village), Tajudeen Lasisi Oyeleye (Elerumooke), Elder Solomon Kehinde Ojo (Alabuke Alapomeji), Adepoju Rasheed Afolarin (Efunwole), Amoo Adesina Tajudeen (Apadi), Kamorudeen Adesina Bello (Onidoko), Gabriel Olusoji Ojewole (Olulotan Eleegun), Karimu Shittu Adejumobi Akanbi (Shokelu) and Lanrewaju Aderemi Badmus (Eleetu).