Former Governor Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State has bared his mind on who should be the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
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”.
Recall that members of Olubadan-in-Council have endorsed the nomination of Dr. Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola disclosed this on Wednesday, January 5th, 2021 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ajibola said the decision to make Dr. Balogun the new Olubadan by the kingmakers was in accordance with the tradition.