Ladoja, Olubadan Council in Cold War as installation of new king drags

By Olaolu Bilau

All is not well within the Olubadan Traditional Council!

Cracks appeared in the traditional Council long before the death of the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Moshood Olalekan Balogun. The problem dates back to when the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi elevated the high chiefs of Ibadanland to the position of Oba during the reign of the 41st Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1.

The action pitched the elevated chiefs against Oba Adetunji who was unhappy with the development and challenged it in court. Former governor Rashidi Ladoja, a high chief and member of the Olubadan Advisory Council refused to be elevated and crowned as king. The development split the Olubadan Advisory Council in two with Chief Ladoja and Oba Adetunji on one side and the elevated high chiefs on the other.

Thus began a crisis never witnessed in the Ibadan traditional kingship system once adjudged the most peaceful and rancour-free in Yorubaland due to its time-tested succession plan devoid of legal tussles.

‘We’ll not sit with Ladoja‘

Following the death of Oba Adetunji and the subsequent installation of Oba Lekan Balogun, Governor Seyi Makinde, promoted the 10 Ibadan high chiefs including Ladoja to the position of Oba.

Recall that the Olubadan Advisory Council had in September 2023 vowed not to sit for a meeting with the Otun Olubadan and former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja. The decision had led to an indefinite postponement of Council meetings.

Chief Ladoja had gone to court to challenge the elevation of members of the Advisory Council who were promoted to Obas and Royal Majesties by the late Olubadan of Ibadan-land, Oba Lekan Balogun. The governor of Oyo State and the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General were also joined in the suit.

Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who is the Balogun of Ibadanland and the next in rank to the Olubadan had announced that all the High Chiefs who became Obas had resolved not to hold any of the Advisory Council meetings that the Otun Olubadan would attend.

He said, “We have resolved not to sit with our friend and brother, High Chief Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, pending the conclusion of his court case.

“What I’m saying here today is the decision of all of us that got elevated and served with court papers instituted by the Otun Olubadan.

“It is a settled matter in Yoruba parlance that people don’t relate as friends after court matters, Olakulehin said.

Olubadan Advisory Council shun Ladoja

So, it may not surprise anyone that a meeting convened by the Otun Olubadan, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, scheduled to be held at Oja Oba last Tuesday was shunned by members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.

Ladoja told journalists, “The meeting was called for today and I am supposed to be the convener of the meeting. That is why I am here.

“I will call the meeting again anytime they are ready,” Ladoja said.

After Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the next in line to become Olubadan, Chief Ladoja is now the most senior among the elevated Obas. However, he has refused to be crowned as one of them and retained his position as Otun Olubadan.

But information emerged that the Olubadan Advisory Council had met on Monday, excluding Chief Ladoja from the meeting.

The Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, confirmed a meeting held at Oja Oba on Monday but Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the next Olubadan was absent.

“Nine of us were in attendance. All of us are Royal Majesties. We are the Obas that the late Oba Lekan Balogun gave crowns to by the power conferred on him by our governor, Seyi Makinde.

“We are the Oba Advisory Council. We are not chiefs. The only Oba who was not present at the meeting was Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, and we cannot nominate him in his absence,” he said.

Ostensibly, the meeting was held to ratify the nomination of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the next Olubadan and communicate the same to the state governor for approval.

Oba Ajibade however, denied knowledge of the meeting convened by Ladoja.

“I am not aware of any scheduled meeting. We, the Obas, met on Monday, and it was concluded that we will continue to wait till we see the new Oba,” Ajibade said.

The whereabouts of the next Olubadan

According to the Ibadan traditional succession plan, the next Olubadan is the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

However, his whereabouts have remained a subject of speculation as Olakulehin has not been seen in public recently. He was also absent at the eighth-day prayer for the late Olubadan.