Follow Us on Google
From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Forty-one years after he was installed as Mogaji of Olakelehin Family Compound at Ita Baale in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, has emerged as the new Olubadan-designate.
His emergence followed the demise of the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, who joined his ancestors late on Thursday March 14, 2024 at 81, after spending two years on the throne.
When Saturday Sun visited the private home of Oba Olakulehin at Alalubosa GRA, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, on Friday, the house had become a beehives of activities and notable Nigerians have been paying congratulatory visits to the residence of the retired military officer and a former member of House of Representatives. He was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the early 1990s. He became Mogaji in 1983.
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 peacock on them. The gate was wide open for people to enter freely. But security operatives were seen at strategic points to maintain orderliness.
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.
One of the significant things that happened in the house is the closed-door meeting held by the Olubadan-in-Council at the residence of Oba Olakulehin. The meeting lasted for about two hours. The council, it was gathered, ratified the candidature of Olakulehin as the next to occupy the stool vacated by the late Olubadan.
The meeting was attended by members of the advisory council, who are also the kingmakers in Ibadan. They include the Otun Olubadan and former governor, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; and Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ladoja, who was flanked by other members of the council at the meeting, said there is no controversy on who becomes the next Olubadan, saying: “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.
His words: “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 befitting burial to the deceased.
“Since he was a Muslim, so, he has to be buried in the Islamic way, and the Islamic way is that he has to be buried today (yesterday). So, it has been decided that he would be buried today at Aliiwo, which is his ancestral home, by 4pm.”
When asked about the time that the new king would be crowned, Ladoja said: “There is no date yet. But the date shall be announced as soon as the burial rite for the deceased is completed.”
