Olubadan: Kingmakers To Decide Fate Of Oba Olakulehin Today

Barring unexpected events, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the chosen Olubadan, is set to be officially confirmed as the Olubadan of Ibadanland today by the Olubadan-in-Council. Subsequently, his name will be submitted to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for final approval.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Olubadan Palace at Oja’ba, Ibadan South East Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that on Wednesday, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, declared that the meeting originally planned for Thursday has been rescheduled to Friday (today) due to the public holidays.

The meeting is anticipated to put an end to the controversies regarding the nomination of Oba Olakulehin following the passing of Oba Lekan Balogun on March 14, 2024.

It was learnt on Thursday that some of the Ibadan crowned Obas might not honour today’s meeting for reasons best known to them.

A source told PUNCH that, “I may confirm to you that some of them will not honour the invitation, even though they were duly informed. None of them (the kingmakers) will deny or say he hasn’t received the message to that effect.”

It was also gathered from another source that Oba Olakulehin may be present at the meeting today.

Consequently, all attention is focused on the kingmakers who have been officially informed about today’s gathering to confirm and announce Oba Olakulehin as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Following the traditional chieftaincy structure in Ibadan, the selection of the new ruler must be proposed by the individual next in line within his lineage during a gathering convened by the most senior chief from the opposite lineage.

Rhe Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, who is next in line to the Olubadan-designate, had declared that Oba Olakulehin was not physically fit to rule at the moment.

But Ladoja, speaking on Wednesday, countered Oba Ajibola’s position.

Ladoja, during an interactive session with newsmen at his Bodija residence in Ibadan, on Wednesday, described Oba Ajibola’s statement as not only personal opinion but inflammatory, insisting that Oba Olakulehin, as an elderly person, was not expected to act like a youth.

“Oba Olakulehin is not a 20-year-old man. He is not a 30-year-old or a 40-year-old man. He is over 80 years old. So, we can’t expect him to act like a youth,” Ladoja told newsmen as he further declared that whoever failed to honour today’s meeting after being notified could be substituted with another high chief next to him.

The Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Lateef Adebimpe, who is next in line to Oba Ajibola, was at the Alalubosa Government Reserved Area residence of Oba Olakulehin where he paid homage alongside three other kingmakers last Friday and declared the Olubadan-designate as hale, hearty and fit for the throne.

It was gathered that if Oba Ajibola did not come to the meeting today, Oba Adebimpe, who is next in rank to him on the Balogun line of the Olubadan, would nominate the new monarch.

Following today’s meeting, the kingmakers are anticipated to submit their nomination to Governor Makinde for validation and endorsement.

Recall that during the Sallah visit by prominent members of the Ummah to commemorate the end of Ramadan fasting, Governor Makinde emphasized that the nomination from the Obas-in-Council is still pending.

He said, “The Obas-in-Council are yet to make their nomination. When they make it, it will come to me and I will either say yes or no. But that has not happened. So, why are people focusing on things that are capable of dividing us? Those whose stock in trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”