ALL SET FOR OLAKULEHIN'S CORONATION AS 43RD OLUBADAN. (PHOTO).

 All set for Olakulehin’s coronation as 43rd Olubadan

After much speculations and air of uncertainty, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde made public his approval of the appointment of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin 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.

A statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, said the approval is a culmination of 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 will 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 was buried according to Islamic 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 had 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 the health status of 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) could enthrone Olubadan not the governor, adding that Makinde could only present staff of office and instrument of office to the Olubadan- designate, not enthroning him.

He maintained that the role of the government was just to give staff of office and instrument of office to the Olubadan-designate.

The remarks peaked series of verbal wars that had ensued shortly after Oba 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 members of the Council had insisted that they would not attend the meeting on the grounds that there was an ongoing legal battle instituted by the former governor, challenging their enthronement and elevation as beaded crown wearing Obas, after he refused to also be crowned.

The situation worsened when efforts to get the two parties to reach an agreement were not successful, as members of the Council insisted that they could not reach any agreement with Ladoja on the grounds that the case was before a court.

Notwithstanding, the Council met, nominated Oba Olakulehin and sent 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 part of elevation of the High Chiefs by the late Olubadan, Oba 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 was no need for signing any agreement for out-of-court settlement, since they had  abided by 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 an agreement with Ladoja, noting that since they had complied with the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration, there was no need to sign any document.

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, with 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.