‘Ladoja can’t rise to Olubadan without accepting beaded crown’

The ascendancy of the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Senator Rashidi Ladoja towards becoming the Olubadan of Ibadan land may be truncated if he fails to accept his beaded crown and letter of appointment.

This, according to a member of government technical committee that examined the Justice Akintunde Boade judicial review report, Dr Gbade Ojo, is contained in the Oyo state gazette on the review of the existing Olubadan of Ibadan land Chieftaincy Declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadan land.

Captured under annexure VII of the gazette, any concerned high chief is termed ineligible for further elevation in Olubadan Chieftaincy ranking and shall be qualified to be appointed Olubadan, if he fails to abide by stated codes of conduct.

Ojo, while featuring on a private radio programme on Monday, pointed out that, going by the new law, Ladoja will be ineligible for further elevation if he failed accept his crown and certificate as approved by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Ladoja was absent at Sunday’s coronation and presentation of staff of office to 21 new Oyo Obas at Mapo hall, Ibadan.

Speaking, Ojo, who is also Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said, “The law in the gazette is that for anybody out of the 11 lesser Obas to be the Olubadan, he must wear beaded crown. Whoever refuses to wear crown for any reason whatsoever, the person cannot become Olubadan. The law was not targeted at an individual but was made for the society.

“Whether or not Senator Rashidi Ladoja will become Olubadan is in his court. If he has refused now, he could have a change of mind and tomorrow ask for his crown and letter of appointment. If he gets his crown and letter of appointment, what stops him from becoming a lesser Oba because the hierarchy remains? The position of the law is that to aspire to become Olubadan, you must wear beaded crown.”

Some other code of conduct in the gazette was a warning to the new Obas against any belittling of the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

“Any Oba in Ibadanland who shows disregard or disrespect to the position or authority of the Olubadan through refusal to pay necessary customary obeisance and flouting of superior customary authority shall be investigated by a Committee of traditional chiefs and appropriate sanction will be recommended against any guilty offender. A very serious infraction of the tradition can be reported to the state governor through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.”

Furthermore, the gazette observed that there was a not very cordial relationship between the Olubadan and the Olubadan in council, and mandated that the Olubadan in council should henceforth hold its meetings in Mapo hall pending the completion of the official residence of the Olubadan at Ibadan house, Oke Aremo, Ibadan.

Meanwhile, the Seriki line has been abolished, while Ikolaba title iss the new entry point into any of the recognised Olubadan or Balogun line.