A late former Editor of Daily Times, Areoye Oyebola, once submitted that “The Olubadan Chieftaincy system was fraught with complexities.
Nigerian Tribune quoted him as making this submission in a position paper, titled, ‘Ibadan Traditional Chieftaincy System’, presented during a symposium to mark funeral activities for the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, held at the University of Ibadan, on February 9, 2016.
This, Oyebola said, had made it impossible for any Olubadan to reign for long. “It is not in the best interest of modern Ibadan city for a prospective Olubadan to wait for more than 35 years after becoming a Mogaji before becoming an Olubadan, since they must cross 22 or 23 promotional hurdles.
“A situation where you have more than 200 Mogajis waiting in line to become Olubadan and, to make matters worse, majority of these Mogajis are not educated and competent enough to rule over a big city like Ibadan, calls for a review.
“I want to call for a review that will make it impossible for such people to become Olubadan. What I can advise the Olubadan-in-Council to do is to assess the current Mogajis and separate those who are not competent to become Olubadan. Make them advisers to the Olubadan and remove them from the chieftaincy lines. Baales should henceforth nominate young, educated and successful men of between 35 and 40 years to become Mogaji. To wait for 35 years before becoming Olubadan and reign for a few years is not in our best interest.”
