PROCESSES towards the emergence of the next Olubadan of Ibadanland will be stepped up with the meeting of the kingmakers to formally fill forms for their choice and submission to the state government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Among other processes, screening of palace staff such as cooks, drummers and other instrumentalists, including palace assistants of the late Olubadan with a view to choosing those among them to work with the next Olubadan may commence today.
Tomorrow’s meeting will be held at the Oja’ba palace, where it is expected that the Ibadan South-East Local Government, the seat of the palace, will provide logistics.
The meeting is sequel to the earlier meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council held at house of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, last Monday and the press conference on Wednesday at Mapo Hall, where the council publicly disclosed its choice of Balogun becoming the next Olubadan, in line with the historical line of succession of Olubadan chieftaincy.
The nine high chiefs, who are authentic kingmakers, invited to the meeting of tomorrow are the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe; the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Kolawole Adegbola and the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Isioye Dada, all from military line.
Also billed to be at the meeting, scheduled to hold at the Olubadan palace in Oja’ba, are the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi; all from civil line and the Iyalode Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Theresa Oyekanmi.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who was announced as choice of the Olubadan-in-council to become next Olubadan, is not expected to be at the meeting.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, High Chief Ajibola affirmed receiving his invite to tomorrow’s meeting from the state government, which he said other concerned kingmakers should have also received.
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 governor with the decision to ratify the council’s choice.
Ajibola said: “The Tuesday meeting is the first official meeting with the state government which is in processing of the new Olubadan. After our meeting, it is up to the governor to make the decisions reached at the meeting public or not.
“I have got my letter of invitation and I believe it will have been sent to everyone of us, including Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
“We, the kingmakers, are up to the task to handle whatever the outcome of the meeting is. “Everything is in stages. The first stage is when the Olubadan passes, and the Olubadan-in-council meets to sympathise with the family and think of the way forward. That involves all in the Olubadan-in-council, whether you are kingmaker or not.
“That was the first one we did at Senator Lekan Balogun’s house.
“After that was the press conference last Wednesday, to tell people that there is no disagreement among us and that we are solidly in support of our choice.
“After that, the government invites the kingmakers, sympathises with us and asks what we are doing. Then, they prepare the nomination form for kingmakers to sign for or against, especially if there is more than one candidate. But, there is only one candidate here.
“Whatever we have at Tuesday’s meeting will not deviate from what we are thinking of. When we get to the meeting, we will see if there is any new development.
“We are simply going to tell the governor what we are thinking of. So the governor has the prerogative and decision to make.
“After that meeting, the governor will still invite us to his office, he can advise, make his opinion known and when he has agreed, he will inaugurate the Obaship inauguration committee.”
Corroborating Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe and the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade, said tomorrow’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 tomorrow is strictly for the kingmakers to inform and formally write government on its choice.
Meanwhile, eighth-day fidau for the late Olubadan, held on Sunday, had personalities to include former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, represented by Senator Ganiyu Solomon; Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal; former Oyo State governor, High Chief Ladoja and wife, Mutiat and Senator Teslim Folarin, representing Oyo Central, present.
The event held at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, attracted politicians across political divides, including the last governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Wole Oyelese; Senator Soji Akanbi; governorship aspirants in the state, Dr Joseph Tegbe and Dr Azeez Adeduntan and the publicity secretary of the Oyo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Akeem Olatunji.
Also present were the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud Makanjuola; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdulganiyy Abubakri; Islamic scholar, Professor Kamil Oloso; Evangelist Bola Are; President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Yemisi Adeaga; Chairmen of the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland; Christian and Islamic clerics.
Chiefs who attended the event included the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe; the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade and the Bada Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Adegboyega Adegoke.
Prior the fidau, Apostle Joel Iyiola of Bible Faith Church, Amuloko, in a Christian sermon, charged humans to surrender their hearts to God, bearing in mind that they will give account at the end of their time here on earth.
For the Muslim sermon, Professor Kamil Oloso stressed the need for humans to live a good life for them to be assured of paradise after their sojourn on earth.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Lagos Is Second Least Liveable City In The World For 2021
Lagos is the second least liveable city in the world for the year 2021. This is according to the most recent annual ranking put together by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…
CLAIM 1: A Twitter user claims UNICEF said any efforts to block children from accessing pornography might infringe their human rights.
VERDICT: MISLEADING!
and then