The family of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Saturday appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to avoid crisis in the family and stop the planned installation of another Mogaji in Alusekere compound.

The family noted that the installation of the Mogaji slated for Monday (tomorrow) would create leadership crisis as an authentic Mogaji already exists in the compound.

According to a letter by the solicitor to the family addressed to Oba Ladoja and made available to Sunday Tribune, Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji was installed as the Mogaji of Alusekere compound on July 17, 2023, by the late Oba Mohood Lekan Balogun.

Apart from the letter, the members of the family also met at the Adetunji palace, Popoyemoja, on Saturday, where they confirmed that copies of the letter had been delivered to all members of the Olubadan-in-Council, while all efforts to deliver that of the Olubadan proved abortive.

The letter signed by Mr Adigun Teslim and dated August 20, 2026, explained that Alusekere family has three branches, which include Adetunji, Sanusi and Ajedotun, adding that the existing Mogaji was picked from the Adetunji branch.

The letter read, “When rumour started milling around in 2023 that some unscrupulous elements were planning to get another member of the same Adetunji branch installed as Mogaji of the branch, our client took it as a pinch of salt because of the manifest absurdity of such plan.

“It is instructive to note that Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji, who was installed as Mogaji Alusekere family is from the Adetunji branch. So, the implication of creating a smaller Mogaji for Adetunji family is that the same Adetunji branch has two Mogajis serving concurrently.

“It would have been different if it is either Ajedotun branch or Sanusi branch that is seeking separate Mogaji for their respective branches.

“It has come to the attention of our client that some elements hell-bent on creating chaos and division within the family had perpetuated deception on the Olubadan-in-Council to secure approval of Your Imperial Majesty to install a certain Mr Kabir Adebola Adetunji as Mogaji Adetunji Alusekere by hiding some salient facts which make the planned installation an aberration.

“The planned installation, coming up on Monday, 24th August, 2026, will create confusion as regards the correct headship of Adetunji family. This is because, while Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji holds the title of Mogaji of the larger Alusekere family, of which Adetunji is just a branch, the said Mr Kabir Adebola Adetunji, who happens to be his stepbrother, by virtue of being children of the same father, may assume the headship of branch where the Mogaji of the entire Alusekere comes from, thus creating crisis of authority.”

The family therefore appealed to Oba Ladoja and the Olubadan-in-Council to stop the planned installation and, in the process, send the right signal that purveyors of confusion will not be allowed to bastardise the Ibadan traditional institution. (Sunday Tribune)

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