Members of the Olubadan-in-Council are expected to meet today to discuss the succession crisis that has hit Ibadanland, following the demise of the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
The 11-member council is scheduled to meet at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan.
The venue was the same place where they chose as meeting place after receiving beaded crown as obas in 2017.
The late Olubadan had previously forbidden them from bringing crowns to his palace, insisting that they were high chiefs.
Oba Adetunji and the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, opposed their elevation in 2017. The deceased monarch and Ladoja dragged the late governor Abiola Ajimobi to court, challenging his authority to undertake the review.
It is reported that the Olubadan Palace has withheld the statutory letter that should be transmitted to the council, notifying it of Oba Adetunji’s demise and consequent vacancy of the Olubadan stool, however, our sources were unable to verify this.
A source told Oyomesioro that the palace decided to withhold or delay the letter due to the attitude of members of the council, since Oba Adetunji joined his ancestors on Sunday.
According to the source, most of the council members stayed away from the deceased’s burial only Sunday evening. Only Ladoja was present at the burial.
Other members, however, attended the third day fidau prayers held at the palace yesterday.
However, the high chiefs decided to meet without an official letter from the palace, following a petition by a renowned lawyer, Mr Michael Lana, calling Governor Seyi Makinde’s attention to what he described as the ‘danger’ of approving Sen. Lekan Balogun’s enthronement as successor.
A source said the high chiefs interpreted Lana’s letter as a move to frustrate the enthronement of Otun Olubadan Balogun, who is the next-in-line to the throne.
Members of the council had met in Balogun’s house on Monday where they declared that their elevation to oba’s position would not in any way hinder his ascension to the throne as prescribed by the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
The kingmakers may announce the new Olubadan-designate tomorrow, our source added.
Many indigenes and well Wishers are still thronging the Alarere residence of Senator Balogun to felicitate with him over his imminent ascension to the throne.
Dignitaries who visited him yesterday included a former minister, Wole Oyelese, former President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero and a former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chief Gbola Adetunji.
Olubadan-in-Council To Meet At Mapo Hall, Set To Announce New Olubadan
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