Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Wednesday, disclosed that only the Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland has the recognition of his authority as the head of the Hausa community in the town.
The PUNCH reports that the clarification followed a petition dated October 18, 2023, by the current Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Ali Dahiru Zungeru, alleging threat, breach of peace and unrest in the metropolis allegedly through the activities of a man who goes by the title Sarkin Sasa.
Balogun, in a statement by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, traced the relationship between Ibadan and the Hausa community to several decades.
He explained that the community had over the years been identified with Sabo in the Mokola area of the metropolis and had naturally been the seat of power where the community head resides and presides over the affairs of the community.
The statement read, “While the Olubadan acknowledges the right of anybody to adopt any name or title as deemed fit by such individual, such must not in any way alter the tradition and order of the society, stressing that, “Sasa community where Maiyasin claims to superintend over has a recognised Baale, Chief Amusa Ajani, as the representative of Olubadan and under whom everybody in that community, including the Sarkin Sasa is a subject.
“In the traditional history of Ibadan, only one leader has always been recognised as the head of the Hausa community and the title ‘Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland’ bears eloquent testimony to his overall headship of all the Hausas, irrespective of wherever they may be located so far such a place is on the soil of Ibadan.
“It is, therefore, sacrilegious and an abuse of privilege for somebody with an unrecognized and self-appointed title to claim to be conferring titles on other people. Such an exercise is null and void and of no effect. Not even the Baale of Sasa that was appointed by the Olubadan could do such a thing without the approval of His Imperial Majesty.”
The monarch, therefore, asked Zungeru to remain calm and peaceful and shun anything that could compromise the peace and tranquillity of the ancient metropolis, calling on the Baale of Sasa, Chief Ajani, to take proper charge of his community and ensure that anything capable of causing disorderliness and brigandage in the area is nipped in the bud.