Next Olubadan: No Controversy, Historical, Traditional Succession Plan Remain Sacrosanct – Olubadan-In-Council Declares

The Olubadan-In-Council has declared that who becomes the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, following the demise of Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, should not be a subject of controversy.

The Council stated that the historical and traditional succession plan to the throne of Olubadan remain sacrosanct, notwithstanding the elevation conferred on all the members of the Olubadan-In-Council as royal majesties.

In line with the agelong rotational arrangement, it is the turn of Senator Lekan Balogun, to ascend the throne as oba over the ancient city, being the next in heirarchy as the Otun Olubadan.

However, his right to the stool is being challenged on the ground that he was among the 21 high chiefs who were elevated to the positions of obas by the administration of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

It should be recalled that members of the council were elevated to the royal majesty status by the state government, under the administration of the late former governor, an action which became a contentious source of litigation.

After a two-hour closed-door meeting held at the Alarere residence of the Otun Olubadan and the would-be successor to the throne, Senator Lekan Balogun, on Monday, the Olubadan-In-Council said who becomes the next Olubadan should not be a subject of controversy.

The Olubadan-In-Council averred that the elevation of the members, who also serve as kingmakers, did not in any way altered the agelong and traditional succession plan to the Olubadan throne in Ibadanland.

The Council stated: “There should be no any controversy as to who becomes the next Olubadan amongst us as the previous elevation that made us royal majesties did not in any way affect our respective offices in the Olubadan-In-Council and would not preclude any of us to mount the Olubadan throne whenever it is the person’s turn.

“We are the kingmakers and we will do the needful at the appropriate time. For now, we are still all in the mourning mood of our departed father and revered leader in the Council and we just want to assure the generality of our people both home and in the diaspora that there’s no cause for alarm.”

A legal practitioner, Michael Lana, had petitioned the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, challenging the decision of the state government to install High Chief Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

He alleged that Senator Balogun and some members of the Olubadan-In-Council were once crowned as obas during the administration of the late Governor Ajimobi.

It is on that premise that he is urging the state government to stay action on Balogun’s installation as the next Olubadan, stating that nowhere in the history of Yorubaland has anybody who was already crowned as an oba can be elevated to ascend throne in another context.

Lana, in his petition, argued that High Chief Lekan Balogun and other high chiefs who were elevated as obas no longer qualify to be crowned as the Olubadan.

The petition reads: “Now, may I draw Your Excellency’s attention to the fact that in committing this aberration which changed the Ibadan Chieftaincy Customary Law, the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 was not amended and that remains extant.

“Under that declaration and all relevant laws, no oba can ascend the throne of Olubadan. In other words, as long as the High Chiefs still cling to the title of oba, they cannot ascend to that throne and any installation of any of them during the pendency of that suit is illegal, null and void.

“In the entire history of Ibadanland, we have never had such a situation where the legality or otherwise of the installation of the Olubadan would be an issue and this was what your predecessor did not take into consideration.”