The Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, has clarified that he at no time supported the ascension of Lekan Balogun, who is traditionally the next heir to the throne of Olubadan.
Ladoja was reacting to online reports that he made a U-turn and backed the nomination of Senator Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan for the seat of Olubadan because he was endorsed by the other ten Olubadan-in-Council members at the ancient Mapo Hall on Wednesday.
Speaking, Ladoja said: “In my comment, I did not say High Chief Lekan Balogun will be the next Olubadan or not.
“I said and quote me, Otun Olubadan, traditionally is the next heir to the throne of Olubadan, but in this regard, but in this regard, I’m not talking about the nomination of Lekan Balogun.”
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“There was no time, I said I backed his nomination or not. Please, only report what I said and don’t quote me out of context.”
“It is a known fact that, in Ibadan tradition, the Otun Olubadan traditionally becomes the next Olubadan after the exit of the Olubadan.”
“That explanation should not be misconstrued to mean I’m in support of his nomination as the next Olubadan or not.”
“Let it be also known that I have no hand in the letter written by an Ibadan-born lawyer and former justice commissioner, Barr. Michael Lana. I did not know anything about it,” he said.
NewsWireNGR had earlier reported that the former Oyo state governor, Ladoja, was absent when the members of the Olubadan-in-Council members met to deliberate on the nomination for the next Olubadan.
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”.
