The Olubadan-in-Council, made up of Ibadan High Chiefs and kingmakers, yesterday resolved controversies over who will succeeds the late Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1, who passed away on January 2. According to the High Chiefs, they are unanimous in the selection of Senator Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan.
Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who is also the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, while briefing reporters on behalf of the Council after a closed-door meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde, at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that the perceived controversy surrounding ascension to the Olubadan Stool has been amicably resolved.
The Council also assures that the legal tussle hindering the pronouncement of the next Olubadan would also be sorted out by next week. The meeting which held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan was attended by High Chiefs Lekan Balogun, Eddy Oyewole, Abiodun Kola Daisi, and Amidu Ajibade. Others are, High Chiefs Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola, Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Kolawole Adegbola, John Isidore and Dauda Agagagugu.
Although, The Nation observed some members of the Council, including High Chief Lekan Balogun, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin, High Chief Gbadamosi Adebimpe, and High Chief Eddy Oyewole were seen coming out of the meeting earlier than others, it could not be confirmed if their somber look had anything to do with the outcome or discussion at the meeting. Ladoja however said the meeting had been concluded before Balogun and other High Chiefs left.
“I can tell you that by next week you will see that there is no tension in Ibadanland again. The resolution of the meeting is simple. The only thing that was holding it up was the objection by Barrister Lana on the court case and we have resolved on how we are going to go about it. That was the only thing that was in contention. None of us argued that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Balogun is not the next Olubadan, he is the next Olubadan. There is no controversy about that because that is our hierarchy,’ Ladoja said.
The meeting was the first time some of the members of the Council are meeting face-to-face since crisis erupted on the review of the Olubadan Chieftain Laws and the award of beaded crowns to members of the Council by the immediate past administration in the state. “So, the governor has been magnanimous to have called this meeting because those of us that said we were never going to meet again at all finally met and we resolved all the matters,” Ladoja said.
On how soon the next Olubadan would be announced, Ladoja said “We have our procedures, now that everything is resolved, the kingmakers will now meet and we will present the candidate to the Governor for assent. On the court issues, we are going to brief the lawyers and they will do the needful. By next week you will see the new development to confirm that there is no crisis whatsoever in Ibadan again.
” Ibadan is very lucky and I always tell people that Ibadan trained people to go and rule in their towns. Go and ask them, Agagu was in Ibadan, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Gbenga Daniel, Bola Tinubu were from Ibadan, go and ask all of them. So, when we train them here, we send them back home to go and rule. Even Ooni of Ife was brought up in Ibadan. So, why should we not be able to solve our own problems? We are very happy that we have solved all the problems and all of us are very grateful to Mr. Governor and we are happy that all is well that ends well,” he said.
