The Osi-Olubadan, former governor Rashidi Ladoja, and the Iyalode of Ibadanland, High Chief Theresa Oladuntan Oyekanmi, were conspicuously absent at the Tuesday meeting of the Ibadan Kingmakers held at the Oja’ba Palace of the Olubadan.
It was learnt that the meeting was scheduled to ratify the selection of the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, as the successor to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland which became vacant on January 2 following the passage of Oba Saliu Adetunji.
The monarch departed at age 93.
The meeting, which lasted about two hour, held behind closed door with none of the seven kingmakers in attendance disclosing the meeting disclosing the outcome to journalists milling round the venue.
The kingmakers in attendance were Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Kola Adegbola and Olubunmi Isioye who hold the titles of Balogun, Otun Balogun, Osi-Balogun, Ashipa Balogun and Ekerin Balogun respectively.
Also in attendance were Eddy Oyewole (Ashipa Olubadan) and Biodun Kola-Daisi (Ekerin Olubadan).
Iyalode, it would be recalled, last Friday wrote a letter of allegiance on behalf of the Iyalode-in-Council and the Ibadan women to the Olubadan-in-Council, pledging support for the choice of Lekan Balogun as the successor to the Olubadan throne.
An impeccable source revealed at the end of the meeting that Lekan Balogun was affirmed as the next successor to the throne of the Olubadan.
The outcome of the meeting which was also attended by the Head of Local Government Administration for Ibadan South-East Local Government, Grace Aremu, was expected to be forwarded to the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for onward passage to Governor Oluseyi Makinde for final approval.
