By Adeyinka Adeniran
After much speculations and air of uncertainty, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde made public his approval of the appointment of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin as the 43rd Olubadan of lbadanland.
The governor gave the approval in a memo signed on June 14, 2024, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 19 (Cap 28) Law of Oyo State 2000 as amended.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Olusegun Olayiwola, the approval is a culmination of a series of processes stipulated by the extant laws of the state regarding ascension to royal thrones.
The Nation recalls that the governor had, at the final burial of the late Olubadan Lekan Balogun indicated interest by acknowledging the receipt of the recommendations of the Olubadan-in-Council on the next Olubadan.
Makinde had at the event said Oba Olakulehin would be enthroned as soon as the Olubadan-designate is strong enough for the processes, noting that due process has been followed in the selection process.
The Nation reports that the late Oba Balogun died on March 14, 2024, aged 81. He reigned for two years and buried according to Muslim rites a day after his death.
Makinde’s remarks generated mixed reaction among stakeholders and people of the state as some reasoned that the governor has no right to delay the enthronement on account of speculations of ill health of the Olubadan-designate.
Notably, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja faulted governor Makinde over his comments on health status of the Oba Olakulehin, saying it was wrong to have said Olakulehin will be enthroned when he is fit to be Olubadan.
He said only the town (Ibadan people) can enthroned Olubadan not the governor, adding that Makinde can only present staff of office and instrument of office to the Olubadan designate not enthroning him.
He maintained that the role of government was just to give staff of office and instrument of office to the Olubadan designate.
The remarks peaked a series of verbal wars that has ensued shortly after the death of Oba Lekan Balogun joined his ancestors.
Crisis started when the Olubadan-in-Council refused to heed the call of Senator Ladoja for a meeting where Oba Olakulehin was to be nominated as the next Olubadan.
The member of the Council had insisted that they would not attend the meeting on the ground that there is an ongoing legal between instituted by the former governor challenging their enthronement and elevation as beaded crown wearing Obas, after he refused to also be crowned.
The situation got worse when all efforts to get the two parties to reach an agreement met futile effort as the members of the Council insisted that they cannot reach any agreement with Ladoja on the ground that the case was before a court.
Notwithstanding, the Council met and nominated Oba Olakulehin and sending the nomination to the state government through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
However, it was a huge relief when the former governor withdrew his case against Olubadan-in-Council, paving the way for the approval of the enthronement process of the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olakulehin.
Ladoja had gone to Court over an alleged threat to his kingship ambition by other members of the Council, following his refusal to be enthroned as Oba as parts of elevation of the High Chiefs by the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.
The lawsuit had impeded the coronation of Olakulehin whose nomination as the next monarch at the time was awaiting approval of Governor Makinde.
Efforts to make both parties, Ladoja and the Olubadan-in-Council reach a compromise on signing an agreement earlier did not yield result as the defendants in the suit, Olubadan-in-Council had insisted that there is no need for signing any agreement for out of court settlement since they have abided with the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration.
The Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe who spoke on behalf of other members of the Council at the end of their meeting held at Oja’ba had justified why they could not reach am agreement with Ladoja noting that since they have complied with the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration there is no need to sign any documents.
He had insisted that what was left for the enthronement of Oba Olakulehin was for High Chief Ladoja to withdraw the suit filed against members of the Council.
However, the the latest development as announced by the Governor, the entire Ibadanland awaits the date for the coronation of the new Olubadan, three months after the demise of the 42nd Olubadan.
Meanwhile, highly spirited members of the Olakulehin family, in anticipation of the coronation of the Olubadan-designate as the substantive Olubadan, has started the sale of ceremony fabric, commonly called aso ebi, in Yoruba land.
The Ankara fabric with blue and black colour alongside a stripped yellow ofi fabric for cap and headgear is conspicuously on display at Olakulehin’s residence in Alalubosa Estate, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The materials were on display for sale at a spacious apartment sectioned off in the spacious compound.
It was gathered that the sale of the fabric was in high demand in the first few weeks after the burial of the last occupant of the Olubadan throne, Oba Lekan Balogun, who died on March 14, 2024.
Sources said things will pick up more and more activities likely to began with the official confirmation of the 43rd Olubadan by Governor Makinde.
