By James Orji
The new Olubadan of Ibadan land, Lekan Balogun will officially take office today as the traditional ruler of the metropolitan city. Govrnor SeyI Makinde of Oyo State stated this at the weekend after the burial ceremony of late Olubadan Oba Soliu Akanmu Adetunji.
The governor said the official announcement of Balogun, a former senator as Olubadan has put paid to initial squabble on who among the high chiefs should succeed the late traditional ruler who joined his ancestors last month.
Balogun was among the coronet chiefs that dragged the state government to court over their status as traditional rulers in the state, after the state government withdrew their crowns in 2019. Some traditional and political leaders in the ancient city had insisted that Balogun should not be Olubadan accusing him of culpability with former Governor Ajimobi in the plot to destroy the process of selecting the Olubadan.
Balogun, the first in line to the traditional stool, those that share this opinion said must not become Olubadan, rather former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, the second in line to the Olubadan was mostly preferred to emerge as next Olubadan.
The chiefs, who are all members of Olubadan in council were elevated as coronet chiefs by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2018. They recently would the case from court as a condition set by the state govrnment to pave way for the new Olubadan to be appointed.
Speaking at the 40-day funeral reception for the immediate past Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the state governor said the announcement of a new Olubadan was necessitated by the passing of the former holder of the office.
The state helmsman said he has received a letter from the Olubadan-in-Council in council to proceed with the announcement for Balogun to take office as the new Olubadan.
He said the manner in which the controversy sorrounding the choice of new Olubadan was handled is a strong message to the world that the succession process for the Olubadan can not be distorted, the state governor said , adding that the Olubadan selection process has become time tested and cannot be altered by any political interest.
According to Makinde, “I have received a letter from the Olubadan-in-Council. By the grace of God, I will announce the new Olubadan of Ibadan land on Monday.
“Today that we are organizing the 40-day remembrance of the immediate past Olubadan, we have already known the next king. Ibadan is not like other towns that it will take them more than seven years before they can have a king after the demise of one. Ibadan traditional system is one that everyone is looking up to emulate,” Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor said in a statement.
Governor Makinde added that the selection of the new Olubadan is an indication that the state remains a pacesetter among the commity of states in the country.
“This is another victory for Ibadan traditional institution. The process and the system were never broken. So there is nothing to fix. So, I can say that we have now returned to our normal way of installing a new monarch in Ibadanland. Now, it is a system that everyone wants to imitate, which shows how we set the pace in Oyo State.
“When the person who came to represent the Chief of Imam was praying, he appealed that we should take care of all Baba left before he joined his ancestors. And I want to believe that we all know that I, Seyi Makinde, am one of those Baba cherished. Therefore, don’t leave me. Continue to pray for my administration,” he said.
