From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The Olubadan Advisory Council rose from an emergency meeting, yesterday, and told the Otun Olubadan and former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, who has sued the 10 new kings in Ibadan, the Olubadan, the governor and the attorney-general of the state, that they would meet him for fireworks in court.
Ladoja had filed before an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, a lawsuit against Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun. Alli-Okunmade II as the first defendant, the 10 new kings as second to 11th defendants, Governor Seyi Makinde of the state as the 12th defendant, and attorney-general of the state as the 13 defendant.
The second to 11th defendants include the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; and Ashipa Balogun, Oba Kolawole Adegbola.
The list also comprised Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Dada Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande; and Ekarun Balogun, Oba Abiodun Dauda Azeez.
In the lawsuit, Ladoja argued that the current Olubadan is plotting to prevent him from ascending the throne, claiming that he would be denied his status as Otun Olubadan if he refused to be crowned. He also alleged that he would not be allowed to become the Olubadan when it is his turn. The suit also challenged the recent elevation of his colleague High Chiefs to Beaded Crown-Wearing Obas last week Friday.
But the Olubadan Advisory Council at the meeting on Thursday described as unfounded and erroneous the allegation by Ladoja that the reigning Olubadan was plotting to prevent him from becoming Olubadan when it is his time.
The emergency meeting was presided over by Oba Lekan Balogun. It had in attendance all the newly crowned Royal Majesties, except two – Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola and Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi. They chided Ladoja for making the claim, saying his position was futuristic and lies in the belly of time.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan after tr meeting by the Personal Assistant (Media) to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, the new Obas, who spoke in turns told Ladoja that nobody becomes Olubadan without the nomination by the Ibadan Kingmakers, consisting of members of the Advisory Council from Ekerin upward.
They reminded him that ascending the throne of Olubadan, as simple as it looks is not automatic, noting that even, if it becomes his turn, the Kingmakers reserve the right either to nominate him or not, yet, if he’s not nominated, no Jupiter can make him the Olubadan and to now accuse or allege “our revered father as plotting against the future is baseless.
“Assuming God decrees him to become Olubadan as he hopes and desires, where will the present Olubadan, being alleged to be plotting against him be? Rather than looking for a scapegoat, he should check himself as there’s no way just one person can stand against 10 others. We shall meet in court as he has already initiated”, the members of Council said.
The new Obas expressed gratitude to Oba Balogun for the feat described as historical, just as they congratulated him for bringing another first to the Olubadan throne. They equally gave kudos to the state governor, Seyi Makinde, for making it possible, stressing that his name would go into records as a reformer.
The new Obas disclosed that it would be out of place to think or assume that all of them presently constituting the Olubadan Advisory Council would become Olubadan, and with the elevation, they were satisfied and their respective families happy and joyous that at least, they brought something home and if God wishes that any of them becomes Olubadan in the future, it would be an icing on the cake.