Ladoja acknowledges Balogun as next Olubadan

But wants cases settled

Former Governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday, said there was no controversy on who succeeds the late Oba Saliu Adetunji as Olubadan based on tradition. The throne became vacant following the demise of the last occupant on January 2, this year.

There have been insinuations on the purported obstacles to Senator Lekan Balogun’s emergence as 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

However, 10 of the 11-member Olubadan-in-Council, Wednesday, endorsed Balogun, at a press conference held at the famous Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

Speaking with The Guardian in Ibadan, Senator Ladoja said there “is no controversy on who is the next in line to the throne of Olubadan.

His words: “There is no controversy that Senator Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, is the next in line.

“The Olubadan-in-Council is only to recommend to the Governor the person that is next in line.

“Uninformed people are just causing unnecessary tensions in Ibadan. There is no controversy about who becomes the next Olubadan after the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1.”

He also clarified the impression that he had a hand in the letter written by an Ibadan-born lawyer and former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Michael Lana.

It would be recalled that with the exemption of Ladoja, Balogun and others have been elevated to Obaship status by the administration of the late former governor, Abiola Ajimobi, an action that is subject of litigation and discussion in Ibadan.

Ladoja said: “Lana said you could not approve it unless you resolve certain cases in court. That is the only thing that is there. There is no controversy about who is next in line. They will only recommend to the Governor to be guided in approving their submission, just to take note of the fact of what had happened before the approval.”

He added: “We are still mourning the Olubadan. We are not happy that he died. I don’t understand what is the controversy. Some people just misunderstand what is on ground.”