The Olubadan-in-Council has chided former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, for dragging it and Governor Seyi Makinde to court over the elevation of high chiefs as kings. The Council described Ladoja’s allegation that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, was plotting to prevent him from becoming Olubadan, as unfounded and erroneous.
At the emergency meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council, presided over by Balogun, and which had in attendance all the newly-crowned royal majesties except two, Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, and Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi, Ladoja was chided for making the claim described as futuristic and lies.
In a statement by Personal Assistant (Media) to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, the new Obas, tutored the Otun Olubadan that nobody becomes Olubadan without nomination by the Ibadan kingmakers, consisting members of the Advisory Council from Ekerin upward.
They said that ascending the throne of Olubadan, as simple as it looks, is not automatic, adding: “Even if it becomes his turn, the kingmakers reserve the right either to nominate him or not. If he is not nominated, nobody can make him the Olubadan.
“To now accuse the revered father of plotting against the future is baseless.
“Assuming God decrees him to become Olubadan as he hopes and desires, where will the current 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.”
The new Obas, who expressed gratitude to Olubadan for the feat described as historical, equally gave kudos to Makinde for making it possible, stressing that his name would go into records as a reformer.
They said it would be out of place to think or assume that all of them currently constituting the Olubadan Advisory Council would become Olubadan.
