Makinde govt’s new kite that may stop Ladoja’s aspiration to become Olubadan
Khalid ABRAHAM
It appears the Oyo state government under Engr Seyi Makinde is bent on stopping the dream of former governor of the state High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja to become the Olubadan of Ibadanland in the future
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This became evident in a new law that found its way into the public space through the programme of events for the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan last Friday.
People were taken aback to find the gazette containing the new Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration at the programme for the coronation on Friday, July 12. The new provision is sequel to the Chiefs Law amendment carried out by the Oyo State House of Assembly in 2023.
The new law (Section 4) states that “The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line.”
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This has been made to replace the former provision of Section 4 of 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which stipulated that, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line”.
This has been generating controversies since the heir apparent, the crown prince to the throne of Olubadan now is High Chief Ladoja according to the tradition of Ibadan, which has been adhered to for about two centuries.
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Thee are two recognized chietaincy lines whose most senior chiefs fill the Olubadan vacancy in rotation. Oba Olakulehin the present Olubadan is from Balogun line while the other line Otun Olubadan line will produce the next Olubadan at the demise of Oba Olakulehin. Whoever occupies the position of Otun Olubadan at the time will be crowned. If Ladoja survives the reigning Oba he will succeed to the throne.
Meanwhile the seed for the present discord was planted during the governorship tenure of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi when he created the high chiefs as Obas, a move fiercely opposed by the then Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and Senator Ladoja, and many other Ibadan indigenes who perceived the move as an aberration of Ibadan cherished tradition. Nonetheless the government went ahead with the plan and crowned the high chiefs as Obas. Ladoja however refused to be crowned insisting he would only wear Olubadan crown and not a lesser crown. Court cases were instituted at different times but the problem has persisted.
With the now soon-to+be-80 years old Ladoja not being a “lesser Oba” it is believed the new law is targeted at him to prevent him emerging as Olubadan if he outlives the incumbent Olubadan.