*No Controversy On Olubadan Stool, Says Makinde

THE Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has dismissed the position of the Otun Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, that the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, was no healthy, therefore unfit to ascend the throne.

Ladoja, a former governor of the state, said Ajibola only gave his personal opinion on the health status of Olakulehin, as he is not a doctor.

Recall that Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, on Tuesday, April 9,  said  Olakulehin, who is also his immediate senior in the military line of the Olubadan system, was not fit to ascend the throne at the moment and should be given time to be healthy before he is mounts the saddle, while the position should remain vacant for now.

But Ladoja told journalists on Wednesday, April 10, at his Bodija, Ibadan residence that Olakulehin is an elderly person and not expected to act like a youth, noting: “Olakulehin is not 20 years old man, he is not 30 years old or 40 years old man, he is above 80 years, so we cannot expect him to act like a youth.”

Asked if Ajibola, who is to nominate Olakulehin as Olubadan at the Olubadan-in-Council meeting on Friday, April 11, could be substituted in case he doesn’t attend the meeting, the former governor said if Ajibola fails to attend the meeting, he could be substituted with the next in the hierarchy.

He emphasised: “Ajibola can be substituted to nominate Olubadan if he doesn’t come to the meeting. I’ve already slated a meeting to Friday, because tomorrow (Thursday) is a public holiday. If he doesn’t come, he can be substituted.”

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde has insisted that there were no conflicts surrounding the stool, cautioning individuals he said thrive on sowing discord to desist for the betterment of the state.

Makinde, who stated this when Muslim faithful, including members of his cabinet and other high-ranking government officials, visited him at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday, added that he was yet to receive any official communication from the Olubadan-in-Council on nomination for the stool.

He wondered why some people were focusing on things that divide the state along traditional lines, saying there’s no place for that under his watch.

   The stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland became vacant following the death of the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, at the University’ College Hospital (UCH) at the age of 81.

   There was controversy over Olakulehin sudden disappearance from public glare after the burial of the late Olubadan. But he resurfaced last Friday at his Alalubosa Ibadan residence in what many thought would put an end to the fears over his absence in the Olubadan-In-Council, Ibadan and environs.

According to Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement, the next Olubadan is the Balogun of Ibadanland (Olakulehin), who must be nominated by the next in line to to him, who happens to be Ajibola, at a meeting convened by the most senior chief in the other line (Ladoja) within 21 days of the passage of the monarch.