.Affirms Balogun as next Olubadan of Ibadan
The Olubadan-in-Council has warned negative elements in the society against dragging the Ibadan traditional institution into the murky waters of politics in order to pervert the unique age long system.
This came as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, joined his ancestors, on Sunday, at the age of 93.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the Olubadan-in-Council said that the misgivings against the choice of the successor to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland had been laid to rest with the public affirmation of Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, as successor to the throne of the Olubadan.
The declaration was made at a press conference held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Those in attendance on the occasion were eight of the members of the Olubadan-in-Council and a Senior Chief, including Balogun, (Otun Olubadan); Owolabi Olakulehin, (Balogun); Tajudeen Ajibola, (Otun Balogun); and Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun).
Others were Eddy Oyewole, (Ashipa Olubadan); Kola Adegbola, (Ashipa Balogun); Biodun Kola-Daisi, (Ekerin Olubadan); Hamidu Ajibade, (Ekarun Olubadan); and Senior Chief Adebayo Akande, (Abese Olubadan).
Ajibola, in an interview on the occasion stated that the succession order to the throne of the Olubadan was not altered as being insinuated in some quarters, stressing that the case in court had no bearing with issue of succession.
According to him, the case in court was to challenge the earlier judgment against the Obas and not about succession to the throne of the Olubadan.
On the elevation of the High Chiefs by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Otun Balogun said, “Those attacking our elevation should avail themselves of the speech read by the former Governor at the elevation programme.”
He stated that the former governor had explained that the elevation was not to alter the succession plan to the throne of Olubadan but to bring Ibadan chieftaincy at par with that of other towns and cities.
“To give credence to the above assertion, some of us who were elevated as Royal Majesties by the former governor had, thereafter, enjoyed our deserved promotions in the Olubadan-in-Council when vacancies existed under our departed monarch,” Oba Ajibola said.
Olakulehin urged journalists to be professional in their reportage, stressing that the Wednesday press conference was to publicly affirm the support of the members of the Olubadan-in-Council for Senator Balogun as successor to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Olakulehin also debunked the rumour doing the round that the incoming Olubadan was bedridden, asking the media men to assess the Olubadan designate openly.
He said, “As you can all see, there is nothing wrong with our amiable, intelligent, mentally and physically alert incoming Olubadan as being wrongly fed the public by some agents of instability.”
Earlier, the Otun Olubadan enjoined the people of Ibadanland to discard unfounded rumours which, he said, were capable of disturbing the peace of Ibadanland.
Balogun said, “It is no longer news that our much revered Kabiyesi, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has joined his ancestors. It is my prayer that the Almighty God, to whom all mortals shall return, will accept his home call, forgive him all his sins and grant him Al-jannah Firdaous.”
“The good deeds he had done in respect of his dedication and commitment to the promotion and sustenance of peace and development of Ibadanland and Oyo State in general shall remain indelible in the hearts of our people.
“He was a peace loving and an outstanding custodian of culture and tradition who held on strictly to the principles of excellent leadership. He would forever be remembered for his consistency and tenacity of purpose in whatever he believed would advance the cause of Ibadanland.
“He has come, served and had gone like everyone before him. And so will everyone at his own time. I pray the Almighty Allah to continue to protect the family he left behind”, Balogun said further.
While commiserating with the Chie Mourner, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde and members of his cabinet, who had been privileged to interact and intimately relate with the late Kabiyesi to sustain the peace and development of Oyo State, Oba Balogun said “there’s no doubting the fact that Your Excellency would sorely miss the late Oba if only for his fatherly counsels on matters of administrative importance to the state”.
Balogun also commiserated with the ”peace-loving people of Ibadanland”, saying, ”I wish to commiserate with my people on the sudden transition to eternity of the late great monarch and I enjoin you all to remain peaceful in all your conducts in order to sustain our unequalled historical peaceful co-existence for which Ibadanland is globally known.”
