IBADAN: There’s no denying that Olubadan’s peaceful ascent to the throne, which had previously garnered praise from neighboring states and abroad, is going through a hard patch.
Since the death of Oba Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade 11, on March 15, 2024, the Ibadan Traditional Council has been swayed by a stormy wind so fierce that it is rocking the council from its very foundation.
The Olubadan-in-Council, who also serve as the kingmakers of the ancient city, have been wary, unlike in the past when the process of choosing a new Olubadan would proceed without a hitch.
There is a great deal of ambiguity in the air over who will ultimately prevail in the race as Otun Olubadan, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, and the other nine council members swing back and forth.
Undoubtedly, the smoke still remains from the attempts made by the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the former governor of Oyo State, to revisit the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
Ladoja and the deceased Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, were at odds with the other nine kingmakers over the late governor’s decision to elevate the high chiefs to beaded crown-wearing kings, which was viewed by most as a controversial move.
The problems the move caused finally led to Governor Seyi Makinde’s tenure, who gave his approval for the High Chiefs to be crowned kings but only after receiving approval from Olubadan, the Paramount monarch.
With the exception of Ladoja, who declined to be advanced to the rank of Oba due to some qualms, all of the High Chiefs enthusiastically accepted their promotion.
Other Olubadan-in-Council members believe they are higher in rank than a High Chief, hence it seems that his decision to decline the elevation backfired.
The leader of the kingmakers and the person tasked with calling the Olubadan-in-Council meeting is High Chief Ladoja, who is ranked behind Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the potential Olubadan designate.
He was at the location of the meeting, which he called in the historic Mapo Hall, during the penultimate week.
He found out afterwards that they had decided to boycott from the meeting while he was still waiting for other council members.
A source stated that the Nine Kingmakers would not be attending the meeting.
Later, rumors circulated that the council members, who chose not to attend the meeting, had met on Monday and decided not to nominate Oba Olakulehin until they had a chance to see him in person to determine his health condition.
According to Oba Hamidu Ajibade, the ‘obas’ had held their meeting, as he disclosed.
According to a different source, they decided at the meeting that they would not go to a meeting called by a “High Chief” who is subordinate to “Oba.”
Another murky area that was uncovered was that if the rumors concerning Oba Olakulehin’s health were accurate, the council had chosen not to nominate him.
According to trustworthy information obtained, if there is anything that prevents the kingmakers from selecting Oba Olakulehin, they are not likely to deviate from the Balogun (Military) line, which implies that the line will fall on the next in hierarchy to Oba Olakulehin who is considered to be younger.
If this action were to be taken, it would result in yet another court battle because the kingmakers ought to be focused on Ladoja’s line.
Furthermore, Ladoja, a former governor, is not standing akimbo as the nine kingmakers plot.
His goal is to make sure Oba Olakulehin receives a nomination and is declared king. His stance is consistent with the Olubadan designate’s family’s, who maintain that Oba Olakulehin is fit and do not contest his health status, citing age-related illnesses.
Regarding the nine kingmakers’ assertions that they would not attend a meeting presided over by a High Chief, Mr. Michael Lana, the Chief’s attorney, contended that the Olubadan Declaration allows High Chiefs rather than Obas to nominate an Olubadan, pointing out that their position could backfire.
According to Lana, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, the exalted Obas serve in two capacities: one as High Chief and the other as Oba. They can only nominate someone for the stool of Olubadan as High Chiefs, not as Obas. Chief Ladoja is their most senior chief in the latter role. He is also the only one who has the required authority to convene a gathering in order to nominate a candidate for the Olubadan stool.
“I believe that this distinction between their abilities should be noted by the elevated Obas. Their Chieftaincy Declarations remained unchanged upon the chiefs’ elevation to the position of Obas. It was stated in the now-defunct Ajimobi White Paper that the Obas would serve as chiefs under the Olubadan. The Kingmakers Otun Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Ekerin Olubadan, Iyalode, and the Balogun, Otun Balogun, Osi Balogun, Ashipa Balogun, and Ekerin Balogun are included under the Declaration.
Before becoming Kingmakers, Ekaarun Olubadan and Ekaarun Balogun must first be promoted to Ekerin.
“To nominate a candidate, the senior chief in the line not producing the candidate must call a meeting and assign the nomination to the chiefs in the line producing the candidate. Take note that a chief, not an Oba, is mentioned in the lines.
Before assuming the stool of Olubadan, the Civil line (Otun) and Military line (Balogun) all climb via the ladder’s rungs.
The Balogun line must overcome 23 obstacles in order to be crowned Olubadan, while the Otun line has 22 rungs starting from Jagun.
The people of Ibadan, the states that speak Yoruba, and beyond are eager to witness the new Olubadan.
Hopefully, the issue will be settled without going to court.
