If the new Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration 2023 unveiled last Friday is anything to go by, then the coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland is unlawful and should be voided.
The widely condemned amended Declaration, which replaces the original version drafted based on the custom of Ibadan people and registered with the defunct Western Region Government in 1957, is solely aimed at stopping the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, from ascending the exalted throne whenever God wills it.
Apart from the widely criticised Section 4 which states that only the most senior beaded crown Oba can become Olubadan, there is a key provision in the draconian law that vitiates the presentation of staff and instrument of office to Oba Olakulehin by Governor Seyi Makinde last Friday.
On the method to be applied in selecting the new Olubadan, Section 5 of the vindictive amended law states thus: “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy Line not presenting the candidate.”
However, the 1957 Declaration provides that only the most senior chief can call and preside over a meeting of Kingmakers where a new Olubadan will be nominated.
According to the 1957 Declaration in its Section 5, “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Chief of the Chieftaincy Line not presenting the candidate.”
OYOINSIGHT.COM gathered that the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated and his name forwarded to Makinde for approval was summoned and presided over by High Chief Ladoja who is not a beaded crown Oba.
The meeting where Olakulehin was nominated and his name sent to Governor Makinde for approval held on April 2024, but approval was given 10 weeks after.
It will be recalled that the late Olubadan, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun, died in March 2024 and it took about four months for Olakulekin to be installed.
It is the most protracted succession to the Olubadan throne in recent years due to needless crises put into the process by the immediate past and the current governments.
In the light of the revelation above, there are questions begging for answers: is Governor Makinde aware the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated was summoned and chaired by Ladoja?
Are some people planning to cook up a record of another (secret) meeting and present same as real when the matter is raised whether in law court or in the court of public opinion? Time will tell.
