Olubadan: Ex-Governor, Rasidi Ladoja breaks silence, backs Lekan Balogun



Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, a one time governor of Oyo State has broken his silence over the controversies that trialed the vacant Olubadan stool.


Recall that the Olubadan of Ibadan land seat became vacant as a result of the demise of Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji.


The monarch joined his ancestors in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 93.


He joined his ancestors after a brief illness at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.


The question of who becomes the next Olubadan has been a subject of discussions and debates in and around Ibadan since Sunday.


The current Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun is the most senior among the High Chiefs. By the tradition of Ibadan, he is to ascend the throne.


But, an Ibadan based lawyer, Michael Lana, wrote a letter to Governor Seyi Makinde, asking him not to endorse Balogun as the next Olubadan.


But, Ladoja, who is one of the High Chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council, in his reaction, said that the High Chief Lekan Balogun who doubles as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, is the next person to the throne.


Ladoja, who doubles as the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, explained that Lekan Balogun is the most senior in the Otun line, the line that will produce the next Olubadan of Ibadan land.


Ladoja, who ruled the State between 2003 and 2007 as Governor, described the controversy trailing the succession to the throne of Olubadan as needless.


He spoke at his Bodija, Ibadan residence, on Thursday, when the Senator representing Oyo Central, Senator Teslim Folarin, led bigwigs in the party to pay a condolence visit to him on the death of Oba Adetunji.


Ladoja explained that he is not causing any trouble in Ibadan.


He advised the High Chiefs, who had instituted a case at the court over the Olubadan stool, to withdraw it.


Ladoja said he doesn’t have the powers to make anybody Olubadan of Ibadan land.


He said, “There is no controversy about it. Egbon Lekan Balogun is the most senior in our line and so he is the next in line to the throne.


“I do not have the powers to make anybody Olubadan. In 2017, we instituted a case to challenge the needless reform that Abiola Ajimobi as governor wanted to do. Almost all of us as High Chiefs and members of the Olubadan-in-Council agreed to the filing of a suit to challenge him and we gave the task to Michael Lana.


“We won the case at the State High Court and Ajimobi appealed. In a judgment, the Appeal Court, a few days to the exit of Ajimobi from government, sent the case back to the High Court for retrial. The Judges of the Appellate Court said the case was brought under writ of summons instead of originating summons.


“By the time, there had been a new government headed by Seyi Makinde who said he did not want the distraction of the suit and called for out-of-court settlement which we agreed to and did.


“After the terms of settlement were agreed to, the court gave a consent judgment based on the terms. But they said they were not happy and instituted two fresh cases which are still in court till today.


“So, I need people to understand that I am not causing any trouble. The cases that are in court today in respect of the Obaship tussle were instituted by Egbo Balogun and his colleagues who are still calling themselves Obas.


“It is they that the people should talk to. Let them go and withdraw the cases they instituted. I don’t like the unwarranted tension this matter is generating”.

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