Uneasy calm as 10 kingmakers endorse Lekan Balogun as Olubadan-elect, Ladoja absent

BY Tolu Sanya

There is uneasy calm in Ibadanland  as ten members of the Olubadan-in-Council endorsed the nomination of Lekan Balogun to become the next Olubadan of Ibadanland during a press conference held in Mapo hall.

Our Correspondent reports that one notable absentee at the event was  the Osi Olubada, former governor Rasheed Ladoja

The ten members present are 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.

The ascendancy to throne of Olubadan has always been smooth but there is a pending court case against nomination of Balogun as the next Olubadan

However, the  kingmakers insisted that no court case would stop the appointment and installation of the next Olubadan.

Otun Balogun of Olubadan, 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.”

They also said the administration of the late former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, did not tamper with the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 by elevating them.

Ajibola said, “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.”

In a text of the press conference obtained by our correspondent, Lekan Balogun re-echoed his position as the Prime Minister of the Olubadan-in-Council – Otun Olubadan.

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.”