Members of the Olubadan-in-Council elevated to Obas have agreed to drop their crowns and revert to High Chiefs.

This decision was taken at the meeting of the council held at the Oja’ba Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by six members council, namely High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin (Balogun of Ibadanland), Tajudeen Ajibola (Otun Balogun), Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; (Osi-Balogun), Kola Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun), Eddy Oyewole (Ashipa Olubadan) and Hamidu Ajibade (Ekarun Olubadan).

The Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, had earlier told THE PUNCH that the affected obas are ready to revert to their original positions following the directive of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, that they should revert.

Ajibola, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said they supported the governor on his decision to revert to the original concept of Ibadan tradition.

‘We agreed with the governor. All the processes leading to the nomination of successor to the late Olubadan were in line with the original concept of line of hierarchy in accordance with the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” he said.

The Olubadan-in-Council, a conclave of Ibadan High Chiefs, also known as kingmaker, on Saturday, cleared the air on the successor to the late Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1, who passed away on January 2.

The kingmakers said they have collectively agreed that Senator Lekan Balogun should be appointed as the next Olubadan.

The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, addressed newsmen on behalf of the Council after a closed-door meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde, at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Ladoja said that the perceived controversy surrounding ascension to the Olubadan Stool has been amicably resolved.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Ladoja as affirming the candidature of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, adding that the Ibadan High Chiefs have resolved their differences and are very united in the bid to install the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The statement was titled, “Olubadan-In-Council clears air on succession, says Senator Lekan Balogun is next Olubadan”.

The Osi Olubadan further explained that Council members had met with Governor Makinde and 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 the 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 assent.

“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.