LADOJA DECLINES TO BE CROWNED AS MAKINDE INTRODUCES THE OFFICE EMPLOYEES TO THE 10 IBADAN OBAS.

Tunji Wusu –

Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State and an Otun Olubadan, was not present on Friday when the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, gave staff of office to 10 Ibadan high chiefs who had been raised to the rank of obas.

Remember that the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill, which gave Governor Seyi Makinde the authority to bestow beaded crowns and coronets to Olubadan-in-Council in the state, was just passed into law.

Tthe governor approved Oba Lekan Balogun’s recommendation to elevate his 11 high chiefs, including Ladoja, to the level of obas.

Following their elevation to wear beaded crowns and the Friday presentation of staff, Olubadan announced through his media assistant Oladele Ogunsola that his eleven traditional advisory councils have ceased to be addressed as High Chiefs and are now known as Obas.

But out of 11 High Chiefs, 10 new Obas present to take staff of office at the event are: Owolabi Olakulehin; Tajudeen Ajibola; Eddy Oyewole; Lateef Adebimpe; Biodun Kola-Daisi; Kola Adegbola; Hamidu Ajibade; Olubunmi Isioye; Bayo Akande and Abiodun Azeez while Ladoja was absent.

Ladoja, on the other hand, had already objected to the governor’s promotion of the Ibadan high chiefs to the position of Oba, declaring that the only crown he desired was that of Olubadan.

On June 28, the tun Olubadan made this statement while addressing to a group of people at his Bodija home shortly after attending Eid prayers at the University of Ibadan (UI) Muslim prayer area.

“Nothing has changed; it is unfair to elevate high chiefs to the position of obas, and my focus is to become Olubadan, no lesser Oba. You don’t fix what is not broken.”

“Having high chiefs serve as obas doesn’t seem fair to me. Who are you up against? It is not part of our custom.

“Ladoja is not interested in wearing an elevated crown,” he declared.