Ladoja, High Chiefs Set To Present Lekan Balogun As New Olubadan

The Olubadan-in-Council, a conclave of Ibadan High Chiefs, has agreed to present the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun as the new Okubadan of Ibadan.

This followed the meeting called by Governor Seyi Makinde to unite the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja with other High Chiefs.

The stool became vacant following the January 2 death of Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1.

The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja,  who addressed journalists on behalf of the Olubadan in Council after a closed door meeting with Makinde, at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that the perceived controversy surrounding ascension to the Olubadan Stool has been amicably resolved.

Ladoja affirmed the candidature of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

He added that the Ibadan High Chiefs had resolved their differences and were very united in the bid to install the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.

He said the chiefs agreed to the resolution that Senator Lekan Balogun who is next in line to the stool remained the authentic candidate for the  Olubadan Stool.

He also promised that the Olubadan-in-Council would jointly make a public statement on their resolutions soonest.

He said: “I can tell you that Ibadan is very lucky.

“All the matters causing crisis in Ibadanland have been resolved. The governor has been magnanimous to have called this meeting because those of us who thought we won’t meet again have finally met and resolved all the matters. So, I can tell you that, by next week, you won’t notice any tension in Ibadan again.

“The resolution is simple and the only contention was the objection by Barrister Lana on the court case and it has been resolved. None of us argued that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Balogun, is not the next Olubadan. All of us have agreed on that position because that is our hierarchy.

“Before the resolution could be announced, we have our procedure. The Olubadan-in-Council will meet and we will present the candidate to the governor for accent.

“Now, we are very happy that we have resolved the problem and we are all grateful to the governor.”

The meeting had in attendance the

Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Balogun;

Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Sen. Rasidi Ladoja; Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Eddy Oyewole; Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Abiodun Kola Daisi; Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Amidu Ajibade; Otun Balogun, Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Ashipa Balogun, Chief Adewole Adegbola; and the Ekarun Balogun, Chief Dauda Azeez Agagugu.