Following the speculation making the rounds regarding who becomes the next Olubadan of Ibadanland after the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, the Olubadan-in-Council has come out to douse the tension.
The Council at a World Press Conference held at Mapo Hall on Wednesday, stressed that their resolutions as regards the death of late Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and next Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun will be presented to Governor Seyi Makinde for ratification.
The Council clarified that the case in the court does not in any way affect the progress of chiefs according to the established rotational system or emergence of the next Olubadan
High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, while speaking on behalf of the Council, therefore, urged the general public to shun the speculations making the rounds regarding the court case, saying that if there is anyone having a case to withdraw it is the Council.
Chief Ajibola said that out of 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council 10 have endorsed High Chief Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
According to him, “we have endorsed the Otun, Senator Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadaland. This is the decision that was taken by 10 out of 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council, and there is no going back on it, it is the tradition that we need to follow to the later,” Ajibola said.
Also in his contributions, High Chief Amidu Ajibade maintained that Olubadan stool cannot be politicized, stressing that the case in court has nothing to do with who becomes the next Olubadan.
“When there was vacancy in the line of Obaship, the late Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji promoted those concerned including Otun, High Chief Lekan Balogun and several others despite their crowns and there was no problem, so, there should not be problem now when the next person to late Olubadan needed to be supported to emerge as Olubadan.
“Those people were duly promoted and their promotions were approved by the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. So, why are they now peddling rumours that are not irrelevant to the issue on ground, after this conference we will submit our resolutions to Governor Makinde.”
In their separate remarks, Alajia of Ajia, Oba Sulimon Akinsola Oladepo, Alawotan of Awotan, Oba Dauda Omotosho and Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye commended the Olubadan-in-Council for their peaceful selection of the next Olubadanland.
While reading his speech, the Oba-elect, High Chief Lekan Balogun, commiserated with the family of the late Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the governor of the state, who he described as the chief mourner.
He said that it is the obligation of the Olubadan-in-Council to inform and update the indigenes and residents of Ibadan on the latest development regarding the death of the late Olubadan and emergence of new one, hence the press conference.
The Oba-elect expressed that the Olubadan-in-Council has been liaising with the state government to ensure that every necessary step to sustain the peace of the city is strictly followed.
Chief Balogun maintained that, that is the traditional practice of Ibadanland when occasion like this arises, to brief the governor about the situation at hand.
