Former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, who is also the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan has expressed disinterest in the upcoming elevation of his status from a chief to a beaded- crown wearing oba, saying that he wants to be the Olubadan and not an elevated Oba.
Ladoja made this disclosure during an interview with journalists in his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan house shortly after observing Eid at the University of Ibadan Muslims praying ground.
Reacting to the plan by ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, to elevate Ibadan high chiefs to Obaship status next month, the engineer cum politician said: “You don’t fix what is not broken.”
He said, “I want to say it again, nothing has changed. Nothing has changed because people say you don’t mend what is not broken. I don’t think it is fair and I don’t think it is right to have many Obas, to have we, High Chiefs, as Obas. Why? Who are we competing with?
“When I set out to join the race to become the Olubadan, I was focusing on how to become the Olubadan and the only crown I want to wear is that of Olubadan of Ibadanland. I’m not interested in any other crown apart from that of Olubadan of Ibadanland. And everyone of us knows that it’s God that chooses Oba in Ibadan.”
According to Ladoja, the Ibadan Mogajis (compound heads) are already equal to traditional rulers of other towns.
He said, “Whether we are right or wrong, we know that Mogaji in Ibadanland installs Baale in rural areas. So, even Baale in Ibadan is superior to another Oba in other places. So, when you look at it, the reason for their own crown is because they asked us to leave that one for a lesser qualified person to wear crown, and it is nothing. It is not in our tradition.”
Recall that Makinde recently signed the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill that granted him autonomy to present beaded crowns and coronets to chiefs in the state into law.
The governor was reported to have given his consent to the promotion of the high chiefs and the high chiefs will officially be installed as traditional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023.
The high chiefs are Balogun of Ibadan land, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; 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.