The Otun Olubadan, of Ibadan land, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has accepted to wear the beaded crown recommended to the high Chiefs in Ibadan land.
High Chief Ladoja, who is also former Governor of Oyo State,, and most senior in rank in Olubadan line made this known on Sunday, while featuring on a radio interview programme anchored by a veteran broadcaster, Abolade Salami
Senator Ladoja stated that his wish to accept the honorary crown is based on plead, persuasion, consultation and support rallied round him by Ibadan indigenes including lots of highly calibres of non Ibadan indigenes both in Oyo state and outside the State.
He said, “there were several meetings and consultations, from Ibadan Mogajis, religious and traditional leaders, which include Prelate Sunday Makinde, Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheik Agbotomokekere, Araba and Oluwo of Ibadan land, who pleaded and assured me that the crown is mere honorary crown to honour the high Chiefs and nothing traditional or evil will happen, once they did not observed all traditional rites of Ipebi, calabash rites and visitation to Ose- Meji’s house.
High Chief Ladoja added that, once he has been given assurance and satisfied that wearing of the crown is just in an honorary status, and clear different from real Olubadan crown which he is willing to wear, by the grace of God and overwhelming support of Ibadan indigenes as testified to by the reaction of the people of Ibadan, when the issue of gazette broke out during the installation of New Olubadan , Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, that he willingly accept to obey the call of majority to accept wearing of the crown, in an honorary level and he is ready whenever Olubadan deem it fit to perform the crowning ceremony for him, and by the grace of God, which has been so kind and merciful to him he will become Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja who became Jagun Olubadan in Oct 1st 1993, during the reign of Olubadan, Oba Ashanike from Idi Aro. thereby progressing on the Ibadan chieftaincy ladder to the top rank of Otun Olubadan, said further that in a democratic setting majority, usually have their way, while minority only have a say, “I will follow the path of majority calling on me to accept the crown, to allow peace to reign in the land, and if that is what they want, the voice of the people is the voice of God, I have accepted, even though I always toe the path of due process and legality, but this is “Bosegba” the way people want it, but not that I sacrificed my principle for Principalities but for peace to reign supreme in our Land”. He emphasized.
This move is seeing by many as crucial to de-escalating tensions arising from the publication of the gazette showing the new amendment.
The Oyo State government, in the revised Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, passed by the state House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde, amended Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration which read in part “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.”
However in the new revised gazette “Section 4 of the amendment, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” replaced Stated that “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
The reform of Olubadan Chieftaincy system was first initiated by former Governor, Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who upgraded the status of the Eleven High Chiefs in Ibadan, to beaded crown Oba, with installation of Twenty – one Obas in one day at Mapo hall, Ibadan.
