Some High Chiefs in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, who were promoted to the status of Obas by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, have insisted that they were the ones responsible for the stoppage of the monthly salary of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and not the state government as was being speculated.

The High Chiefs, who are now referred to as Obas, made this revelation during a meeting attended by some community leaders (Mogajis) held at Mapo Hall on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun declared that the salaries from 10 months which the Olubadan is entitled to would be suspended until he recognized their new status as kings.

They added that it was sheer selfishness for the Olubadan to accept his new title of “Imperial Majesty” and maintain a rigid stance against their own installation.

Balogun said, “The Olubadan got promotion from royal majesty to imperial majesty, he didn’t complain but he is not ready to recognise us as kings, how do you think that can be possible?

“He should remember that he couldn’t have become king if we, the kingmakers did not recommend him to the governor.

“It is not automatic that he should become king. In fact, anybody from the chieftaincy title of Ekerin from both lines can be picked as Olubadan of Ibadan.

“We recommended him to the governor before he was installed by the same governor who installed us as kings.

“We want to correct the misconception that it was the state government that stopped his salary. The governor is paying him his monthly salary from time to time. But, there is another N200,000 he usually collects from each of the 11 local governments in Ibadanland. That is the one we suspended. He will start collecting it as soon as he recognises us as duly-installed kings.”