As Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is set to install some Ibadan High Chiefs officially as traditional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023, his predecessor and the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, has said his ambition was to become the Olubadan.
Ladoja, who addressed journalists at his Bodija residence on Wednesday, rejected offer to be promoted to lesser king, insisting “my target is to become the Olubadan.”
His position was in reaction to Governor Makinde’s recent signing of the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill that granted him autonomy to present beaded crowns and coronets to Olubadan-in-Council in the state into law.
The former governor insisted that his ambition when he joined the Olubadan line was not to become a lesser king but the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
According to him, he was only interested in becoming paramount Olubadan and not an “elevated” Oba.
Ladoja, who maintained that “there is no need to fix what is not broken,” said: “Nothing has changed, you don’t mend what is not broken, it is not fair to elevate high chiefs to Obas, my focus is to become Olubadan, no lesser Oba.
“I don’t think it is fair to have high chiefs as obas. Who are you competing with? It is not in our tradition. Ladoja is not interested in wearing an elevated crown.”
Governor Makinde after giving his consent to the promotion of the high chiefs will go ahead to installed them officially as traditional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023.
The Ibadan high chiefs to be installed are Balogun of Ibadan land, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole, and Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe.
Others are Ashipa Olubadan, Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Olubunmi Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan; Bayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.
