By James Jibril
The crisis rocking the ascendancy of Olubadan stool due to the demise of the 41st Olubadan seems to have been laid to rest after the pronouncement of Otun Olubadan, Dr. Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan.
Ten of the twelve members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who are the Kingmakers of the ancient city of Ibadan made the endorsement of the nomination of Dr. Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, made the announcement at a press briefing by the Ibadan kingmakers on Wednesday.
According to Ajibola, the kingmakers resolved that Dr Balogun is next in line to ascend the throne of Olubadan according to tradition.
He also debunked insinuations relating to the health and wellness of the Olubadan-elect.
Other High Chiefs in attendance were Balogun Olubadan, Owolabi Olakulehin; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Edward Oyewole; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekaarun Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekaarun Balogun, Dauda Agagagugu; Ekerin Olubadan Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Ekerin Balogun, Isioye Dada; and Iyalode Olubadan, Theresa Oyekanmi.
However, the Osi Olubadan and former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, who is a council member was conspicuously absent at the briefing.
Recall that the last Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, died on Sunday morning.
The demise has generated some level of ascendancy crises that include a court case
The kingmakers, however, insisted that no court case would stop the appointment and installation of the next Olubadan.
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Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, who spoke on behalf of the kingmakers, said, “The case doesn’t have anything to do with kingmakers. The law is there. We are the kingmakers. I want to say that we are 12 in Olubadan-in-Council. 10 of us have endorsed Lekan Balogun; Iyalode is also part of us. We endorse the most superior.
“There is no law without exception. The exception is that we can appoint anyone from Ekerin Olubadan if the Otun Olubadan (most superior) has a questionable character. We have not seen anything that he has done wrong. We have endorsed him and nobody or court case can stop him.
“Saying that there is a judgement is an attempt to disrupt the process. We have concluded hearing in the case three months ago, it is left for the judge to deliver judgement. We don’t have any case in court on his appointment. Court case can’t stop him (Lekan Balogun) from being appointed.”
“There is no law that states that any of the elevated chiefs cannot become Olubadan. Anyone that says someone cannot become Olubadan because of elevation is lying.
“We are the representatives of Olubadan in our domains. They salute us as Kabieii, so why can we be crowned? Our crown is not higher than that of Olubadan. We are His Royal Majesties, Olubadan is His Imperial Majesty.
“There is no politics in the appointment or installation of Olubadan. It is irrelevant if the person had earlier been crowned or not. The ascendancy to the Olubadan throne is clear. We have a line of hierarchy. We know the next person at every point in time.
“The review done by Ajimobi added value to Ibadanland. Mogaji of Ibadan is like the king of another place. Ajimobi did well for Ibadan. Ajimobi who elevated ranks did not tamper with the Ibadan declaration.”
The Olubadan-elect, Dr. Lekan Balogun, in a text of the press conference obtained by The Trumpet reiterated his position as the Prime Minister of the Olubadan-in-Council – Otun Olubadan.
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He said, “By way of duty, as the Prime Minister of the Olubadan-in-Council, we owe the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State in general the obligations to inform and update you all on the latest developments at our Palace.
“It is no longer news that our much-revered Kabiyesi, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso II, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has joined his ancestors.
“The good deeds he had done in respect of his dedication and commitment to the promotion and sustenance of peace and development of Ibadanland and Oyo State, in general, shall remain indelible in the hearts of our people.
“He was a peace-loving and an outstanding custodian of culture and tradition who held on strictly to the principles of excellent leadership. He would forever be remembered for his consistency and tenacity of purpose in whatever he believed would advance the course of Ibadanland.
“He has come, served, and had gone like everyone before him. And so will everyone at his own time.
“I enjoin you all to remain peaceful in all your conduct in order to sustain our unequalled historical peaceful co-existence for which Ibadanland is globally known.
“I, therefore, enjoin you all to discard with all unfounded rumours and insinuations capable of disturbing the peace of Ibadanland, irrespective of the quarter from which such fake news emanate.
“In line with the traditional practice of Ibadanland when an occasion like this arises, the Olubadan-in-Council has been up and doing liaising with the Oyo State Government to ensure that every necessary step to sustain the peace of the city is strictly followed.”
