• How Olubadan-designate waited in chieftaincy line for 41 years
• Dignitaries, drummers, others turn house of 89-year-old incoming monarch to Mecca
By Oluseye Ojo
On Thursday, March 14, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun transitioned to the great beyond after spending two years on the throne.
• Oba Owolabi Olakulehin
His death paved the way for the emergence the new Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, according to Ibadan’s unique chieftaincy system of installing royal fathers.
As expected, the new Olubadan-in-waiting has become the new bride, as his home has become the new Mecca.
•Traditional drummers at Olakulehin’s house
When the reporter visited the private home of Oba Olakulehin at Alaluboda GRA, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, the house has become a beehives of activities. Notable Nigerians have been paying congratulatory visits to the residence of the soon-to-be-crowned retired military officer and former member of House of Representatives.
The fence of the house was painted white and green like the flag of Nigeria. The two slabs of the gate to the house have picturesque inscriptions of the peacock on them. The gate was wide open for people to enter freely. But security operatives were seen at strategic points to maintain some order.
The compound of the house is serene and expansive. The exquisite bungalow is painted white. Two groups of traditional drummers were seen in the premises entertaining guests. The atmosphere was electric, as visitors to the place were happy that the time has come for Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to become the paramount ruler of Ibadanland.
The Olubadan-in-Council held a closed-door meeting at the residence of Oba Olakulehin on Friday last week, as part of the recognitions that will be given to him. The meeting lasted for about two hours.
The meeting was attended by the members of the advisory council, who are also the kingmakers in Ibadan. They include the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; and the Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ladoja, who was flanked by other members of the council, said there is no controversy on who becomes the next Olubadan.
“The departed monarch came from the Otun Line. The next monarch will be from Balogun Line. So, the head of Balogun Line is the Balogun of Ibadanland, who has become the Olubadan-designate.
“We all know that Ibadan does things accordingly; if a king dies, we already know who is next. We refer to him as designate. We are here to formalise what is next after the burial rites of the deceased would have been completed. We also discussed how to give a befitting burial to the deceased.”
When asked about the time that new Olubadan would emerge, Ladoja reponded: “There is no date yet. But the date shall be announced as soon as the burial rite for the deceased is completed.”
Ratification of Olubadan-Designate
it is expected that the Ibadan kingmakers, also known as Olubadan Advisory Council, will next week ratify the emergence of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as Olubadan. The meeting is expected to be attended by the Secretary to the Ibadan South East Local Government, which is the mother of all the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland. The meeting is also expected to be attended by the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Chief Theresa Laduntan Oyekanmi.
This is coming 41 years after Olakulehin was installed as Mogaji of Olakelehin Family Compound at Ita Baale in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He became Mogaji in 1983 and Jagun Balogun in 1986.
Investigation by Saturday Sun revealed that when there is a vacancy, the next in the same line, after the person to be announced as Olubadan, is saddled with the task of nominating the next Olubadan.
In the present case, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, who is the second in command to Olakulehin will have to nominate him officially during the meeting that will be held next week, while High Chief Ladoja, who is head of Otun Line, will second the nomination.
After the nomination, two documents — one affirming Olakulehin ’s nomination, and the one containing the list of the immediate three high chiefs in the Balogun Line after the nominee, would be sent to the governor through the Office of Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The two lines that have been producing the occupiers of the Olubadan stool on rotational basis are the Otun Line (Civil Line) and Balogun Line (Military Line). The immediate past Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, was produced by the Otun Line.
Ita Baale Ancestral Home of Olubadan Designate
The reporter also visited the family compound of the Olubadan-desigate at Ita Baale, which is sandwiched by Beere, Oranyan, Labiran, Aderogba and Beere.
The building that is expected to serve as palace for the Olubadan-designate at Ita Baale, is a two-storey structure. A source from the family of the incoming Olubadan confirmed that the palace would be at Ita Baale, and not Alalubosa GRA at Aleshinloye.
However, the visit to the place showed that to access the house from the main road, one has to pass through footpaths in between houses, and it is about 500 metres to the main road. The proposed palace cannot be accessed by any automobiles, and a road would have to be constructed to the location of the structure, if it will truly serve as a palace. Then, compensation might have to be paid to those whose houses would give way for the road construction.
The first son of the Olubadan-designate, Sunbo Owolabi, a lawyer, served as the Commissioner for Water Resources under the administration of former governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
A tour of the community showed that there are many family compounds at Ita Baale, including Olakulehin, Okugbaja, Daodu, Daramola, Jenriyin, Akinrinde, Kuye, Modaderin, Ogboriefon, and Jenrola.
Prominent people that have been produced by the Ita Baale compound include the Bashorun of Ibadan, Chief Kola Daisi, the father of the present Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi. The list also comprises former Aare Muslumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, the late Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao; and former Otun Olubadan, the late High Chief Omowale Kuye.
When Olakulehun finally ascends the throne of Olubadan, he will be the second Olubadan to be produced by Ita Baale. The first traditional ruler from the community was Baale Oyesile Olugbode, who reigned from 1851 to 1864. He came from Okugbaja Compound. He reigned when the paramount ruler of Ibadanland bore the nomenclature of Baale. The first Olubadan to wear be crowned was Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe in 1976.
The ascension of Olakulehin to the throne will be 160 years after Ita Baale produced the first Olubadan.
Meet the Olubadan-designate
A brief profile, compiled by one of the Olubadan palace staff, Yanju Adegboyega, stated that the Olubadan-Designate, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, who is the head of the military line of the Olubadan system, hails from Okugbaja family, Ita Baale area, in Ibadan North East Local Government Area.
He was born on July 5, 1935. He is an ex-service man, having served in the Nigerian Army and retired as an officer.
He is a former Chairman, Ibadan South East Local Government, Mapo and also contested and won the House of Representative election in the aborted Third Republic on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Oba Olakulehin started his journey into the Ibadan Traditional Institution in 1983 when he was installed the Mogaji of his family compound and started climbing the Balogun Chieftaincy line ladder in 1986 when he became Jagun Balogun.
The Olubadan-Designate is an accomplished businessman. He owns Olakulehin Printing Press and a bakery.
As the practice, after the 8th day prayer for the departed Olubadan, Oba Olalekan Balogun, the palace drummers would move from Alli-Iwo to the Ita Baale palace of Ọba Olakulehin, to herald his symbolic ascension of the throne.
Most well structured system
The ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oyo State, is widely regarded as one of the best and most well-structured in the South West region of Nigeria.
Unlike other traditional chieftaincy systems, Ibadan’s succession to the Olubadan throne is free from rancour, litigation, and usurpation.
Any male child title-holder of the metropolitan centre of the city is a potential king. He also has to be installed as Mogaji of his family compound, from where he is expected to get promotion to one of the two lines that have been producing Olubadan on rotational basis. From Mogaji, the chief will either become Jagun Olubadan (Civil or Otun Line) or Jagun Balogun (Military or Balogun Line).
It was gathered that from the title of Jagun, only death usually determines promotion, as one chief or the other will have to die before the chiefs under him will get promoted to the next rank.
Promotion to the throne of Olubadan is both a joyous and a sad event. When the king dies, the bereaved family will be grieving, while it will be celebration galore in the family of the next person to occupy the throne. This is why one of the panegyrics of Ibadan is ‘Omo Agbotikuyo’, meaning descendants of those that celebrate when they hear of death (of a reigning Olubadan.)
Ruling lines and steps to Ibadan throne
Ibadan’s chieftaincy system does not rely on ruling houses but on two ruling lines: the “Egbe Agba” (Civil) and “Balogun” (Military) lines. These lines determine the appointment of the Olubadan on a rotational basis.
The Otun Olubadan (Civil) and Balogun of Ibadanland (Military) are second-class traditional rulers under the Western Nigeria Law and hold the highest positions in their respective lines.
The succession process involves climbing a series of steps: 22 steps in the civil line and 23 steps in the military line.
On the average, it takes 35 to 40 years to groom an Olubadan through these stages of chieftaincy promotions.
A history of patience and wait
The history of patience, wait, and significant investment of time ensures that those who eventually ascend to the throne are experienced and well-prepared to lead.
The journey to becoming the Olubadan is a patient and long one. The immediate past Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, was installed as Mogaji of Aliiwo family compound in Ibadan North East Local Government in 1986. He became Oluadan in 2022, after he had waited for 36 years to become the paramount ruler of Ibadanland.
He also spent two years on the throne, having been installed as Olubadan on Friday March 11, 2022 and breathed his last on Thursday March 14, 2024, at the age of 81.
The 41st Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso I, spent 40 years to ascend the throne. He started as a Mogaji in 1976 and was installed as the 41st Olubadan in 2016. He joined his ancestors in January 2022.
The 40th Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I waited for 35 years to become Olubadan. Odulana was promoted to Jagun in 1976 and was crowned as monarch on August 17, 2007, at 93. His reign lasted nine years.
The 39th Olubadan, Oba Yinusa Ogundipe Arapasowu I, who was born in 1912, was crowned the Olubadan at 79 on May 7, 1999. He had waited for 39 years to occupy the stool. He reigned for eight years before joining his ancestors in 2007 at 87. He was appointed Mogaji of his compound at Oranyan in 1960 and was promoted to Jagun Balogun in 1964.
The 38th Olubadan, Oba Emmanuel Adeyemo Operinde I, spent 41 years between the time he was appointed the Mogaji of his family at Isale Ijebu in 1953 and January 14, 1994, when he was crowned as the Olubadan. He reigned for five years.
The 37th Olubadan, Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike I, was also in his 80s when he became king in 1983 and his reign lasted 10 years.
In the same vein, the Olubadan-designate, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun of Ibadanland, who is expected to become the 43rd Olubadan within the next few weeks, became Mogaji in 1983 and was promoted to Jagun Balogun in 1986, which means he has been waiting to become Olubadan for the past 41 years.
Origins of Ibadan’s unique chieftaincy system
How did Ibadan evolve the unique chieftaincy system? What then can be done to ensure that relatively young people occupy the stool of paramount ruler of Ibadanland? These are parts of the questions agitating the minds of people.
Investigation revealed that Ibadan’s chieftaincy system has its roots in the diverse origins and interests of the warriors who founded the city. These powerful warriors established Ibadan as a gathering place before going to war in other parts of Yorubaland.
To prevent internal conflicts over leadership, they developed a system that involved give-and-take. Chiefs such as Bashorun Ogunmola and Ali-Iwo played crucial roles in establishing the rancour-free nature of the Olubadan chieftaincy system.
The issue of producing a relatively young person to ascend the throne of Olubadan became well pronounced in the first quarter of 2016 before the coronation of the 41st Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Scholars, such as a frontline historian, Prof. Bolanle Awe; former Commissioner for Education in the old Western State; Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of old Oyo State; Chief Areoye Oyebola, former Managing Director of Daily Times and the-then governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, presented their position papers. They all supported restructuring of the chieftaincy system.
But some chiefs in the Olubadan Line objected to the restructuring and preferred that the status quo be maintained.
During different encounters with journalists, the 42nd Olubadan had explained that the chieftaincy reform that was proposed then was very crucial. He agreed that after practising the system for close ro 100 years, there was the need for an improvement. He said at the level of high chiefs, they should be apolitical. They should not engage in partisan politics.
“We believe this is an ideal situation. At that level, they are fathers of Ibadanland, all politicians on Ibadan soil should be their children. So, they should not be found in one political party or the other against their own people.”
He explained Ibadan’s unique chieftaincy system this way: “Ibadan was founded by warriors with diverse origins and interests. So, there has to be a measure of give-and-take from the word go, which accounts for the rancour-free nature of the system.
“Ibadan was established by warriors from different parts of Yorubaland, who used to assemble at Eba Odan, which later became Ibadan. They would assemble there and take off to the war front, throughout Yorubaland. When they returned from the war, they would assemble at Eba Odan to share the spoils of war.”
He said the rancour-free nature of Olubadan chieftaincy system was evolved by the warriors who founded Ibadan so that they would not engage one another in battles over who should be the leader. Some of the great warriors included Bashorun Ogunmola, and Ali-Iwo:
“Based on the fact that the settlers of Ibadan were powerful warriors, it was imperative for them from the word go, to say who would be the leader and how the leader would emerge. That was how the rancour-free nature of the system emerged. They were powerful people and did not want to confront one another in fight. They evolved the Mogaji and other titles.
The self-reforming nature of the system:
One of the remarkable aspects of Ibadan’s chieftaincy system is its self-reforming nature. The system is capable of correcting any weaknesses or issues it encounters.
As gathered, the system’s ability to adapt and evolve was described as very significant.
These days, young and educated men have been appointed as Mogajis (Compound Heads), which has paved way for the possibility of younger generations becoming Olubadan in the future. It was said that the self-reforming nature ensures that the chieftaincy system remains relevant and inclusive.
It was even suggested by a former governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in his controversial review of 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration in 2017 that the steps on the two lines should be reduced almost by half so that younger persons would have opportunity to become Olubadan. But the move was not allowed to see the light of the day.
In corroborating the self-reforming system of Ibadan traditional chieftaincy, it was even said that God is the owner of life, and that the youngest person that had occupied the stool of Olubadan, only spent six months on the throne, while another person that got to the throne at almost 90 years, reigned for 10 years
Position of the law:
But what is the position of the law on the Olubadan chieftaincy matters? Saturday Sun got an extract from the Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 Cap 28, which spells out the power of the governor in relation to the appointment of recognised chieftaincies in the state.
The laws state that it is the statutory duty of the governor to give approval or set aside any appointment made into any Recognised Part II Chieftaincies.
But the governor would not do this until the expiration of 21 days after he must have been notified of such appointment by the secretary of the competent council, that is, the local government concerned in accordance with Section 19 of the Chiefs Law. The period of 21 days is meant to allow an aggrieved candidate or aggrieved ruling house to make representations, that is, protest over the way and manner the appointment was done.
The laws say any person to be appointed as recognised chief, must not have been disqualified under any of the following grounds as contained in Section 14 (2) of the Chief Laws, that is, he must not be suffering from any serious physical infirmity; he must not be a lunatic and he must not be an ex-convict.
Section 14 (1) and (2) talk about qualifications and disqualifications of any person to be appointed into recognised chieftaincy. It states that any person to be appointed into recognised chieftaincy shall be qualified, if he is unanimously selected by his ruling house, though two or three candidates may be selected by his ruling house, while the kingmakers have the power to appoint one. But the governor must approve the appointment.
The law further states that where a person is installed without prior approval of the governor, Section 21 of the Chief Law may be activated, which says:
“Where a vacancy has occurred in a recognised chieftaincy and no person has been approved as successor thereto by the governor in accordance with this part, any person who installs or purports to install a person as such chief or any person who permits himself to be installed as such chief shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years.
“Any person who installs or purports to install a person as a recognised chief other than the person approved by the governor in accordance with this part, or who not being the person approved by the governor in accordance with this part, permits himself to be installed as a chief shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years.
“Where a person has been approved as a recognised chief in accordance with this part, any other person who holds himself out as such chief or wears any of the regalia of such chief shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years.”