Kingmakers Meet, Keep Mum On New Olubadan
Suspense is the game as Ibadan kingmakers held a meeting at the Olubadan Palace, Mapo, today to ratify the name of Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The kingmakers, who came out of the almost two hours closed-door meeting at about 1:45pm, kept mum and declined to respond to questions from newsmen who had gathered at the venue of the meeting.
Following the demise of the late Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso I, on 2 January, 2022, the kingmakers are expected to meet and submit the name of the Olubadan-elect to the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on or before the 16 January, 2022 deadline.
Seven of the kingmakers held a closed-door meeting lasting about two hours from 11:30am to ratify and send the name of Senator Lekan Balogun to the Governor Makinde for eventual approval as the new Olubadan.
While the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, was conspicuously absent, others present at the meeting included High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin (Balogun of Ibadanland); Tajudeen Ajibola (Otun Balogun); and Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun).
Also present are High Chief Kola Adegbola (Ashipa); Olubunmi Isioye (Ekerin Balogun); Eddy Oyewole (Ashipa Olubadan); and Biodun Kola-Daisi (Ekerin Olubadan), while Iyalode of Ibadanland, High Chief Theresa Oyekanmi, was also absent due to reported ill-health.
However, Newscoven.ng gathered that they have ratified and sent the name of the Otun Olubadan, being the most senior high chief, to Governor Makinde for approval as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
A Palace source said: “The kingmakers met today at the Olubadan Palace, as scheduled, and they took a decision to ratify the name of the Olubadan-elect and send same to the state governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde for approval.”
Ten out of the 11 members of the Olubadan-In-Council had, Wednesday, last week, endorsed and declared the Otun Olubadan as the Olubadan-elect.
The declaration was made during a press briefing held by Senator Balogun at Mapo Hall, following the demise of the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Adetunji.
The Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, had said the entire Olubadan-In-Council, with the exception of the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, supported the endorsement.
While Senator Ladoja was conspicuously absent at the press briefing, High Chief Ajibola declared that “10 out of 11 members are in support of the Olubadan-elect”, adding that there is no court case stopping such.
