Olakulehin’s Absence Fuels Rumour as Ekerin Olubadan Says Olubadan-designate May be Unwell

The Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, on Tuesday, raised concern about the absence of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, at a Monday meeting of the Council of Obas to deliberate on the enthronement process of Oba Olakulehin as the new Olubadan.

The ancient and revered Olubadan stool became vacant on March 14, 2023, following the death of Oba Lekan Balogun.

Balogun died aged 81 about two years after ascending the throne.

The PUNCH had reported that the Ibadan Council of Obas would meet on Tuesday to formally nominate Oba Olakulehin to Governor Seyi Makinde as the Olubadan.

But speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, Ekerin Olubadan said a meeting was held on Monday, but the Olubadan-designate was absent, adding that Oba Olakulehin had not been seen in public since the demise of the late Olubadan, raising concern about the state of Olubadan-designate’s health.

It was also gathered that there was a rancour between the Council of Chiefs and the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja.

Speaking with our correspondent on the development on Tuesday, the Ekerin Olubadan said, “We all the crowned kings of Ibadanland held a meeting yesterday (Monday) at Olubadan’s Palace, Oja’ba in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of the state, with the exception of Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Olakulehin.

“Oba Eddy Oyewole, followed by the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba John Dada, Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Muritala Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez.

“Baba Eddy is the one leading us now. All of us are royal majesties. That’s about nine of us. By the power of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, we are the kings that the late Olubadan gave beaded crowns. The only person who was not at the meeting was Oba Olakulehin and High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of the state. He is Otun Olubadan, a chief and not an Oba.”

The Ekerin Olubadan said not much could be achieved at the Monday meeting with the absence of Oba Olakulehin, who was the Olubadan-designate.

“When we meet, we should know what to do and the next step of action. We visited his (Olakulehin’s) house a day after the late Oba Balogun joined his ancestors and Baba (Olakulehin) was not at home. We met with his son, Sunday Owolabi, a former commissioner, and he told us Baba was not around.

“So, we told him that anytime Baba was around, he should let us know, so as to come back and pay homage to him as our next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“Nobody can decide for us. We will decide for ourselves. One person cannot speak for us. We have already convened our meeting yesterday (Monday). We Obas have already concluded everything yesterday (Monday). What are we waiting for? We can only be waiting for our new Oba. We are the ones to decide. Our governor, Makinde, will give us the final decision. He will be the one to decide. He can do and undo”, he said.

The Ekerin Olubadan, however, insinuated that the Olubadan-designate might not be well.

“The governor will do everything; but if anybody is not well, even if you are not well, we will make sure that anybody that becomes Oba is well. A tree cannot make a forest. We didn’t become kings without the knowledge of the governor. There is the law on lineage for us in Ibadan. We have never seen our incoming Olubadan. So, right from Baba, the governor can pick from anywhere; the governor can pick from Ekerin Balogun, Ekerin Olubadan.

“If someone is not well or capable of staying on that throne, do you just want us to put that person there like a vegetable? Is it possible? What we want is whoever wants to become our Oba must be able to walk and speak, so that you will be able to communicate with him.

“So, there is a law in our lineage that says if number one is not fit; the number two is not; the number three is not, the governor has the power to pick right from Ekerin. So, how should it be one, two, three and four? God forbid! So, he will see and check very well that that person can perform”, he further stated.

When asked if he was aware of any other meeting on Tuesday at the same Olubadan’s Palace, Oja’ba, the Ekerin Olubadan said, “I am not aware of any scheduled meeting. We the Obas met yesterday (Monday) and it was concluded that we would continue to wait till we see the new Oba.”