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• Olubadan-elect walks, addresses Ibadan
By Oluseye Ojo
Ibadan kingmakers on Friday officially nominated Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, and has sent his name to Governor Seyi Makinde for approval.
The action was preceded by nomination and ratification of Olakulehin, who until then, was Olubadan-designate, and has become Olubadan-elect as a result of the decision of the kingmakers. The meeting, which was convened and presided over by the Otun Olubadan and former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, was attended by the Director of Administration and General Services, Ibadan South-East Local Government. The kingmakers said they have finalised work on the nomination form and the document has been presented to the Ibadan South-East Local Government, that would perfect it and also send it to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, for onward movement to Governor Makinde for approval.
The Olubadan-elect, who wore a white agbada, was also at the meeting on Friday. He walked into the hall by himself unaided and also spoke, saying: “I thank you all for your prayers and support.”
At the meeting on Friday, where only one of the nine kingmakers was missing, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who was the Balogun of Ibadanland, and now Olubadan-elect, could not nominate himself and he only had to sit at the meeting and observe.
The kingmakers came from the Otun Line (Civil Line) and the Balogun Line (Military Line) that have been producing occupiers of Olubadan stool on rotational basis. At present, it is the turn of the Balogun Line to produce the Olubadan, because the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who joined his ancestors on March 14, 2024, at the age of 81, after reigning for two years, was produced by the Otun Line.
The next in rank to Olakulehin on the Balogun Line, Oba Abimbola Owolabi, who is the Otun Balogun, was absent at the meeting. He had addressed a press conference on Tuesday and vowed not to attend any of such meetings until Governor Makinde intervened and probably ensured fitness of Olakulehin through medical examinations.
The seven kingmakers that nominated and ratified Olakulehin are the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; the Osi Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; the Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; and the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; as well as the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi-Adebimpe; the Ashipa Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; and Ekerin Balogun, Oba Dada Isioye.
Oba Olakulehin was nominated after a closed-door meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council by the Osi Balogun, Oba Gbadamosi-Adebimpe at Olubadan of Ibadan palace, Oja’ba. The nomination was followed by ratification by all the kingmakers in attendance.
The Otun Olubadan, Ladoja, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the council after the meeting, said: “In this meeting, we have concluded the appointment of the new Olubadan, subject to the consent of the governor.
“The letter will go to the governor as soon as possible because it is being prepared by the local government. We hope that the governor will give his consent as soon as possible. As soon as he gives his consent, we will pick a date for the coronation.
“We pray that all of us will be alive to witness the day. Thank you for your endurance.”
The Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande, and the Ekarun Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez, were also at the meeting for solidarity. But they were asked to leave the meeting when it was time to nominate the new Olubadan, as they are not among the kingmakers.
