Almost all humankind usually pray not to have their loyalty/principle tested. Those who escaped or never had their loyalty/principle tested must thank their destinies for many rarely come out successfully from the panel of loyalty and principle.
High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, had his principle tried and tested— though stood his ground and guarded his principle jealously like he did when there was a threat to his seat during the time that he was the governor of Oyo state – the will of the people eventually prevailed.
After what seemed to be an endless skirmish over the throne of Olubadan that started about seven years ago had generated a lot of controversies and had caused division in the palace, the disagreement in the end was laid to rest few days ago when High Chief Ladoja finally agreed to accept the ceremonial crown he initially rejected.
Some believed that this was the right decision to make to avoid another litigation that could cause stagnation or hinderance to smooth ascension while some people frowned at Chief Ladoja’s decision. They argued that his agreement to join the other High Chiefs to accept the beaded crown was a way to degrade Olubadan stool. Isn’t it untraditional and unspeakable to have kings without domains? Why did anyone, in the first instance, think that the only way to dignify Olubadan was to elevate his chiefs to become kings like him? How does it sound to have Olubadan without a chief? How and when did the unprecedented decision to elevate chiefs to the positions of Obas even start?
IN THE BEGINNING
The journey of the controversy which has been trailing Olubadan stool for quite a long time started exactly two years (April 2017) to the end of the tenure of the late governor, Abiola Ajimobi, when the governor inaugurated a 7-man judicial of inquiry which was headed by a retired High Court judge, Justice Akintunde Boade.
The commission was saddle with the responsibility of (1) reviewing the existing requirements and qualifications for ascendancy to the throne of Olubadan (2) reviewing the selection process of Olubadan from Otun and Balogun line (3) looking into the possibilities of having more beaded crown kings in Ibadanland.
The reason, which many thought to be flimsy, for Ajimobi to elevate the 8 members of Olubadan-in-Council and 13 village chiefs (Baale) was that the Ibadan high chiefs were hardly recognized in some events or occasions, most especially, those outside Ibadan.
This proposal to review the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration certainly came as a shock to many Ibadan indigenes. Majority, both living in Ibadan and outside the town, outrightly condemned the review. They cited some unforseen discrepancies that could disrupt or hinder the seamless ascension to Olubadan throne through the widely condemned review.
AGITATION OF THE TRIO
In their efforts to preserve the tradition, which was cherished by millions of people all over the world, the trio of the then Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji; Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun and Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja vehemently rejected to be part of the review. They lamented that the review would not only belittle Olubadan but would also create a division between Olubadan and the high chiefs.
Both Chief Ladoja and Chief Balogun believed that the only way to stop Gov. Ajimobi in his pursuit was to challenge the review (elevation of high chiefs and village heads) in the court. But along the line, Chief Balogun, only God knew why, backed down and left only Chief Ladoja to pursue the case..
LADOJA/AJIMOBI LEGAL TUSSLE
Known for his doggedness and somebody who often upholds justice over injustice, Chief Ladoja went ahead and took Ajimobi and his 7-man judicial of inquiry to court to put a stop to their planned review that could strip Olubadan of his dignity.
Regardless of the appeals from many Ibadan indigenes to Gov. Ajimobi to rescind his decision, and the agitation of Oba Adetunji and Chief Ladoja against the review, the governor went ahead on August 27, 2017 to promote 8 high chiefs and 13 village heads to the status of kings. The governor bestowed on them beaded crowns. Baales were given the title of His Majesty; High Chiefs were labelled Royal Majesty, and Olubadan, in absentia, was titled Imperial Majesty.
After the case was heard, a high court in Oyo state eventually nullified the elevation and ordered that the beaded crowns bestowed on whoever accepted them be withdrawn. The court also set aside the review that elevated them. But Ajimobi later appealed the judgement.
MAKINDE ENTERED THE SCENE
Amidst the back and forth, 2019 election came and Engr Seyi Makinde became the governor of Oyo state with the support of the coalition spearheaded by Chief Ladoja. Makinde’s victory undoubtedly changed the tide of the issue that surrounded Olubadan throne. He ordered that the status quo ante should remain: all the elevated high chiefs and Baales should return to their previous positions.
The governor’s directive lingered until the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji on 2nd January, 2022. The dilemma to nominate the next successor to the throne ensued. And to remind both the state and Olubadan in council the issue on ground, the Ibadan-born lawyer, Barrister Michael ‘Lana, wrote a lengthy letter to Gov Makinde to inform him of the danger of accepting a nomination of any high chief by Olubadan-in-Council while the case was still in the court. Until the case was settled, the most senior high chief, Chief Lekan Balogun, who was next to mount the throne had to wait even if the case was not settled in the next ten years.
The hinderance to the smooth ascension of Late Oba Adetunji and Chief Ladoja predicted years back started to rear its head. Ibadan was left without a king for months but for persuasion mounted on Chief Ladoja, he and other high chiefs agreed to settle out of the court. And this finally pave the way for High Chief Lekan Balogun to become 42nd Olubadan on 11th March, 2022.
CONSPIRACY AGAINST LADOJA
Following the installation of Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun, the issue of the elevation of the high chiefs to the position of beaded crown kings was brought to the fore again. The members of Olubadan-in-Council except Chief Ladoja again decided to recover the beaded crowns that were withdrew from them by the court. They insisted their crowns must be given back to them.
Oba Lekan Balogun and other high chiefs excluding Chief Ladoja presented the case before Makinde and the governor, perhaps through coercion or volition, accepted the proposal to return the beaded crowns to the chiefs.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde sought the approval of the state House of Assembly to amend section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2023 to allow traditional heads to wear beaded crowns based on the requests to the state government by the high chiefs. The governor said his request to seek the approval of the assembly to review the chieftaincy law was in order to further improve the process. He said the proposed amendment, when fully effective, would empower him as the sole authority without consultations with the Chiefs to grant approval for wearing of beaded crowns. Then Chief Ladoja again went to the court to challenge the proposed amendment.
Without hesitation, there was another installation of the High Chiefs through the influence of Gov. Makinde on 7th July, 2023. The governor did not only ceremonially install the chiefs like Late Ajimobi did, Makinde, in collaboration with the Oyo State House of Assembly, also went further to seal their coronation with legal backing. The new law mandates any High Chief who is willing to mount Olubadan throne to wear a beaded crown. This is against the previous Chief’s law.
Initially Chief Ladoja had no problem with the second installation of the High Chiefs but when he later discovered that there was an attempt to stop him, he went to court again to seek redress. It was on the process of this redress that Oba Lekan Balogun passed on.
DILEMMA AFTER OBA BALOGUN’S DEMISE
The issue of mounting the throne by the next senior high chief, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, rose again. The case in the court would not allow him to become Olubadan until the case was settled. Again, Chief Ladoja was persuaded and withdrew the case to prepare the way for Chief Olakulehin. But in the day of the installation of Chief Olakulehin, the amended law law that could stop Chief Ladoja to become Olubadan was revealed, and this undoubtedly tie Chief Ladoja’s hand.
The amended law states that only the most senior high chief that wears beaded crown will be the successor to the throne. Chief Ladoja is today the most senior high chief. He is the next successor to the throne. But he wears no beaded crown: one of the criteria to qualify him to mount the throne. Ladoja’s principle was on trial. And the dilemma arose.
LADOJA FINALLY AGREED
Few days ago, High Chief Ladoja cleared the air by mentioning publicly that he was ready to wear the ceremonial beaded crown as long as it made him not the real king. Chief Ladoja agreed that wearing a ceremonial beaded crown was wrong but for what the law stated, he had no option but to accept the beaded crown. Some condemned the move while many hailed him for accepting to wear the crown.
At this juncture, we need to remind and tell Oyo state government that interfering into the affairs of installation of obas in Oyo state is not the duty of the governor. The process of selecting Olubadan is already in existence. Therefore Olubadan-in-Council should be allowed to perform their duty for it’s their sole responsibility.
Ademola Bablow Babalola
