With the eighth-day fidau for the late Olubadan concluded, processes towards the emergence of the next Olubadan will be stepped up with a meeting between the kingmakers and the Oyo state government scheduled for Tuesday.
According to Sunday Tribune, Tuesday’s first official meeting of the kingmakers with the Oyo state government, which was convened at the instance of the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, is to hold at the Olubadan palace, Oja’Oba, Ibadan.
The nine high Chiefs, who are authentic kingmakers, that have been invited to the meeting are the Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Otun Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Kolawole Adegbola; Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Isioye Dada.
Also billed to be at the meeting are, Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; Asipa Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Iyalode Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Theresa Oyekanmi.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the Otun Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola affirmed receiving his invite to Tuesday’s meeting, from the state government, which he said other concerned kingmakers should have also received.
Ajibola pointed out that Tuesday’s meeting was a sequel to the earlier meeting of the Olubadan-in-council held at the house of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Balogun, and last Wednesday’s press conference where the council stated its choice of Balogun becoming the next Olubadan in line with the historical line of succession of Olubadan chieftaincy.
Ajibola said the kingmakers, will at the meeting, present its agreed choice of Balogun as the next Olubadan to the state government, and leave the state governor with the decision to ratify the council’s choice.
Corroborating Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe and Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Amidu Ajibade said Tuesday’s meeting is to formalise the council’s decision on its choice of Balogun as the next Olubadan.
They explained that the press conference held last Wednesday was that of Olubadan-in-council to showcase the Olubadan-elect to the public as fit for the task while that of Tuesday is strictly for the kingmakers to inform and formally write government on its choice.