Ibadan indigenes at home and in the diaspora have promised to build a new befitting official palace for the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana.
To this end, over N250m was raised for the new palace project which would have a living area for the monarch, royal guest house, ceremonial pavilion, reception block, festivities ground, car parks, palace transport pool, power house, police post, fire station, wood land and a market, a statement said on Sunday.
The decision was reached at the fund raising ceremony at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan on Saturday.
The Chief Launcher at the event and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, set the ball rolling when he made a donation of N50m.
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, gave N25m on behalf of the state government and another N20m on behalf of himself.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Bode Amoo, also contributed N25m towards the building project, while the Olubadan-in-Council, all the 11 local government councils in Ibadanland, and the 11 traditional councils in the city donated N20m, N55m and N11m respectively.
Senator representing Oyo South senatorial district, Olufemi Lanlehin, also announced the donation of N5m, while former Governor Omololu Olunloyo contributed N1m.
Ambassador Olusola Saanu, donated N1m, while the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes gave N10m and members of the state House of Assembly contributed N10m to the project.
Ajimobi described the occasion as a landmark event in the annals of not only Ibadan land but Oyo State and the South West in general. He stressed that a befitting palace for the Olubadan was a thing of pride to all Yoruba sons and daughters payable to the fact that Oyo State was the political and the intellectual capital of the South West.
“Government’s struggle to make the landscape of Ibadan conform to what is acquirable in modern cities of the world can only be complete with a modern palace for the Olubadan,’’ he said.
Ajimobi expressed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and improved standard of living of traditional rulers, adding, “we will always ensure that the institution occupies its pride of place in this dispensation which is noted for high respect and honour for traditional institutions.”
While describing traditional institutions as a source of political stability, administrative convenience and veritable haven of cultural heritage, the governor said it should never be allowed to be enmeshed in unnecessary controversy or instability.
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