Olubadan: Ladoja is under increased pressure to accept the beaded crown

Strong advocacy is being conducted to convince Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, to accept the beaded crown, as stipulated for his status in the amended Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

Many believe that this action is necessary to defuse the tensions that have arisen since the new amendment was published in the gazette.

Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration was amended by the Oyo State administration and subsequently signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde in the new Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which was approved by the state House of Assembly.

The original version stated: “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.”

However, Section 4 of the amendment, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” replaced “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”

Section 4 of the new law states: “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”

The most senior High Chief, Ladoja, whose line is supposed to produce the future Olubadan, has refused to take the beaded crown.

Prominent community leaders and legal experts contended that Ladoja’s acceptance would stabilize the succession system and benefit Ibadanland, despite his stated desire only for the Olubadan throne.

According to The PUNCH, the action was taken to diffuse the tension that had been raised by the contentious publication of the government gazette.

On Sunday, our correspondent watched individuals coming and going from Ladoja’s private home on Ondo Street in Bodija, the state capital of Ibadan.

Two senior chiefs from Otun Olubadan and Balogun lines, who did not want their names in print, said “Although they did not subscribe to Governor Seyi Makinde’s interference in Olubadan’s succession system, rejecting the beaded crown by Ladoja as the next in line to the Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, with no court process in place, might create a yawning gap in Ibadan succession system, and ultimately do harm to Ibadanland.”

One of the Mogajis who spoke with The PUNCH said, “Let me appeal to the Otun Olubadan to accept the crown.

“As Mogajis, we are too junior to accuse our fathers in the rank of crown-wearing High Chiefs of not doing well. They will heave a sigh of relief once Ladoja accepts the crown because they perceive that people calling them carton crown-wearing monarchs are doing so because of Ladoja and will henceforth call them correct monarchs once he accepts the crown.

“Ladoja enjoyed enormous goodwill, having done Ibadanland some good and saved it from different chieftaincy crises from the times of Oba Odulana Odugade (2007-2016), through Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso1 (2016-2022), Oba Mohood Balogun (2022-2024) and the reigning Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

“Why should we now put roadblocks in his way when he did not supplant his seniors and a reigning monarch is in place?”

Nonetheless, a number of well-known Ibadanland natives, as well as Native American attorneys and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, argued that the new chieftaincy law would need to address certain basic legal difficulties.

As of the time of publication, calls placed to Ladoja’s phone by his media assistant, Adeola Oloko, were not answered, making it impossible to get his response to the events that were transpiring.

Bola Babarinde, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in South Africa, has pleaded with Makinde to prevent the Olubadan succession plan from being upset.

In a statement made available to the Nigerian News Agency on Sunday, Babarinde stated that the Ibadan traditional system, which has flourished for more than 200 years, need to be preserved.

Any attempt to change the succession plan, in his opinion, could jeopardize the stability and advancement of the nation.

The late warrior king of Ibadanland, Odetilo’s great-grandson Babarinde, observed that the chieftaincy system in Ibadan was unique in that it was egalitarian and non-hereditary.

Babarinde, an Ibadan native and the descendent of Ojo Kure of Oja’ba, said that the chieftaincy system underwent substantial modifications in the latter part of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tenure.

He claimed that the succession plan came into clear focus with the elevation of Ibadan High Chiefs following Oba Adetunji’s death in 2016.

Babarinde noted that the alleged participation of Makinde in Ibadan obaship succession affairs was causing mixed feelings among the indigenes. She claimed that the attempt by Ajimobi to review and alter the traditional order prompted significant debate and worries.

“The traditional system of Oluyole Ibadan, which has thrived for over two centuries, should remain intact. Any attempts to alter this system could undermine the peace and progress of the region.

“The administration of Governor Makinde is advised to honour and respect the traditional

institution of Ibadanland, avoiding actions that could provoke the ire of the people,” he added.

He claimed that the indigenous people of Ibadan were afraid that the governor’s purported role in the installation of the Soun of Ogbomoso and the current selection process for Alaafin of Oyo would further confuse the system of monarchy in that region.

According to Babarinde, the governor’s purported involvement in the traditional affairs could obstruct the ascension of a legitimate heir to the Ibadan obaship, such as Ladoja, a former state governor.

“The Ibadan monarchy is a testament to a sophisticated and democratic system of succession.

“As the city moves forward, it is vital to preserve this unique heritage and ensure that political interests do not overshadow the traditional values that have brought prosperity and stability to Ibadan.

“Governor Makinde is urged to exercise his executive powers judiciously and avoid actions driven by political vendetta.

“I equally appeal to the governor to respect traditional institutions in the state,” he said.