The family of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Saturday appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to avert crisis in the family and stop the planned installation of another Mogaji in Alusekere compound.
The family noted that the installation of the Mogaji scheduled for Monday (tomorrow) would create a leadership crisis as there is already a genuine Mogaji in the complex.
According to a letter from the lawyer to the family addressed to Oba Ladoja and made available to the Sunday Tribune, Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji was installed as the Mogaji complex of Alusekere on July 17, 2023 by the late Oba Mohood Lekan Balogun.
Apart from the letter, the family members also met on Saturday at Adetunji Palace, Popoyemoja, where they confirmed that copies of the letter had been given to all members of the Olubadan Council, while all efforts to deliver Olubadan’s letter proved fruitless.
The letter signed by Mr. Adigun Teslim and dated August 20, 2026 explains that the Alusekere family has three branches, including Adetunji, Sanusi and Ajedotun, adding that the existing Mogaji was elected from the Adetunji branch.
The letter read: “When a rumor began to circulate in 2023 that some unscrupulous elements were planning to install another member of the same Adetunji branch as Mogaji of the branch, our client took it with a pinch of salt due to the manifest absurdity of such a plan.
“It is instructive to note that Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji, who was installed as Mogaji Alusekere family, is from the Adetunji branch. Therefore, the implication of creating a smaller Mogaji for the Adetunji family is that the same Adetunji branch has two Mogajis serving at the same time.
“It would have been different if it was the Ajedotun branch or the Sanusi branch that sought separate Mogaji for their respective branches.
“It has come to our client’s attention that some elements bent on creating chaos and division within the family had perpetuated the deception of the Olubadan in Council to secure the approval of His Imperial Majesty to install one Mr. Kabir Adebola Adetunji as Mogaji Adetunji Alusekere by concealing some salient facts that make the planned installation an aberration.
“The planned installation, which will take place on Monday, August 24, 2026, will create confusion regarding the correct leadership of the Adetunji family. This is because while Oloye Gafar Adewale Adetunji holds the title of Mogaji of the larger Alusekere family, of which Adetunji is only a branch, the said Mr. Kabir Adebola Adetunji, who happens to be his half-brother, by virtue of being sons of the same father, can assume the leadership of the branch from which the Mogaji of all of Alusekere come, thus creating a 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 the promoters of confusion will not be allowed to bastardize the traditional institution of Ibadan.
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