The Olubadan-in- Council has described the allegation by former governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, that the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, is plotting to prevent him from becoming ascending the thron when its his turn as unfounded and erroneous.
Ladoja had filed a suit at the Oyo State High Court to challenge the recent coronation of Ibadan High Chiefs to beaded crown-wearing Obas and had also claimed that the exercise was made conditional for any future Olubadan to ascend the throne, stressing that the condition would make it difficult for him to be crowned Olubadan when it is his turn.
Rising from an emergency meeting presided over by Oba Balogun, which had in attendance all the newly crowned monarchs except Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, and Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi, on Thursday, the Olubadan-in-Council chided Ladoja for making such claim, describing it as futuristic and lies in the belly of time.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant on Media to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, the new Obas, who took turns to speak, reminded the former governor that nobody becomes Olubadan without the nomination by the Ibadan kingmakers, consisting of members of the advisory council from Ekerin upward.
They also reminded him that ascending the throne of Olubadan, as simple as it looks is not automatic, noting that even, if it becomes his turn, the kingmakers reserve the right either nominate him or not. They added that if he is not nominated, nobody can make him the Olubadan, stressing that accusing the revered monarch of plotting against a future occurence is baseless.
“Assuming God decrees him to become Olubadan as he hopes and desires, where will the present Olubadan being alleged to be plotting against him be? Rather than looking for a scapegoat, he should check himself as there’s no way just one person can stand against 10 others. We shall meet in court as he has already initiated,” members of the council said.
The new Obas disclosed that it would be out of place to think or assume that all of them presently constituting the Olubadan Advisory Council would become Olubadan, saying that with the elevation, they were satisfied and their respective families werw happy that at least, they brought something home.
They maintained that if God wishes that any of them becomes Olubadan in the future, it would be an icing on the cake.
The new Obas expressed gratitude to Olubadan for the feat, describing it as historical. They congratulated Oba Balogun for bringing another first to the Olubadan throne and equally gave kudos to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for making the feat possible, stressing that his name would go into record book as a reformer.
In attendance at the meeting are Oba Owolabi Olakulehin (Balogun of Ibadanland); Oba Eddy Oyewole (Osi Olubadan); Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun); Oba Kolawole Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun) and Oba Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan).
Others were Oba Olubunmi Isioye, Oba Adebayo Akande and Oba Abiodun Dauda Azeez, the Ekerin Balogun, Ekarun Olubadan and Ekarun Balogun respectively.
