Ten out of the eleven Olubadan-in-Council members on Wednesday endorsed the nomination of the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next heir to the throne of Olubadan.
The missing member of the Olubadan-in-Council member was Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja.
NewsWireNGR had earlier reported that the hierarchical arrangement in the Ibadan system has a two-line approach, the Balogun system and the Olubadan (Otun) system.
Olubadans are appointed on a rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch. The next to Olubadan and most senior on both lines are the Otun Olubadan and Balogun.
Oba Saliu Adetunji was crowned the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan following his coronation on March 4, 2016.
Prior to his coronation, Oba Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land which indicates that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun may be next in line according to the rotational system.
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The endorsement, followed by the ratification by members of the Olubadan-in-Council, during a press conference, held at the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
The Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, who spoke on behalf of the kingmakers said; “The council, which is the kingmakers, has met and resolved that Balogun is next in line and will in line with the tradition ascend the throne of Olubadan”.
Meanwhile, former attorney-general of the state, Michael Lana, has said it is illegal for Senator Lekan Balogun to become the next Olubadan of Ibadan land. Read full story.
Reacting, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadaland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade, maintained that the Olubadan stool cannot be politicised, ”stressing that the case in court has nothing to do with who becomes the next Olubadan”.
Amidu said: “Those people and others were promoted during the reign of late Olubadan with their crowns and there was no problem, so there should not be a problem now when the next person to late Olubadan needs to be supported to emerge as Olubadan.”
