The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja is reportedly in dilemma over a decision over the subject of accepting or not to become a beaded crown wearing monarch in Ibadan.
Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State is next in line to the Olubadan throne, being the most senior on the Otun line to ascend the throne after the incumbent, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin who was coronated barely two weeks ago.
A slight review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration that was gazetted in July 2023 prescribed that any high chief that would be nominated for the throne as Olubadan must be an Oba already in line with the crowning of high chiefs in 2017 and the re-crowning of 2023.
Ladoja was the only high chief who declined the crown at both periods.
He also challenged the crowning of his colleagues in court in 2017 and 2023. But the July 2024 gazette of the Ibadan Olubadan Declaration has made it compulsory for anyone to occupy the throne of the Olubadan to have been crowned as a member of the Olubadan-in-Council.
The judgment in the 2017 suit filed by Ladoja against the Oyo State government was given in his favour as the court held that only the Olubadan of Ibadan had the right to undertake a review of the declaration, not the Oyo State governor.
Ladoja insisted on the implementation of the judgment as a precondition for the late Oba Lekan Balogun to be enthroned as the 42nd Olubadan in spite of the appeal filed by the crowned high chiefs against the judgment.
Consequently, the high chiefs were forced to drop their crowns to pave the way for Balogun to be enthroned. But the late monarch undertook the review of the declaration in 2023, which led to the re-crowning of the high chiefs.
The review further forbids any member of the council that was not crown-wearing from being enthroned as the Olubadan.
Ladoja also withdrew his suit against the re-crowning to pave the way for the current monarch, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to be enthroned, so he could inch closer to the throne.
Since the latest gazette was made public earlier in the month, concerns have grown over the chances of the former governor to mount the throne whenever it becomes vacant.
It was gathered that the Otun Olubadan has been consulting far and wide, while his followers within the Olubadan chieftaincy system and the larger city have been encouraging him to accept the beaded crown in order not to miss enthronement when it becomes vacant.
The pressure on the former governor was almost sure to force him to backtrack on his avowed opposition to the crowning.
Though, some loyalists to the former governor have been accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of deliberately sponsoring the review, which created a roadblock for Ladoja from mounting the Olubadan throne.
Makinde’s media adviser, Mr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, explained on a radio programme at the weekend that review of chieftaincy declarations are undertaken by only traditional rulers, not the governor.
He said the review in question was undertaken by the late Oba Balogun and supported by high chiefs, adding that the state government only gazetted it.
