The former Governor of Oyo State who is also in line to become the Olubadan of Ibadan by virtue of his traditional chieftaincy ranking as the The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Adewolu Rasheed Ladoja has declared his intention to accept the controversial beaded crown to avoid any controversy to his becoming the Olubadan of Ibadanland, as stipulated by the status in the revised Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration recently updated by the Oyo state Government.
Chief Ladoja explained that various Ibadan indigenes and non-indigenes had pressured him to accept the beaded crown to facilitate his ascension to the throne when it his turn to ascend the throne.
The Ibadan High Chief stated this while answering questions on ‘Agbami Oselu,’ a radio programme on popular Fresh FM in Ibadan “By the grace of God, I will become Olubadan. God has been merciful to me. My blood pressure has been stable.
“Anyone God destined to become Olubadan will become Olubadan. No matter the obstacles placed in their way.
I’m ready to accept Ibadan’s ceremonial beaded crown if it’s the wish of God and the good people of Ibadanland. Only God knows who becomes Olubadan. I know by the special grace of God; I will become Olubadan
“I will do what the people of Ibadan want. God is determining everything. We have had many people who became Balogun but did not become Olubadan. We have had many people who became Otun Olubadan but did not become Olubadan. Omiyale and Kuye died ten days apart.
“It is a tough decision, but the voice of the people is the voice of God. That is what the people want.”
This move is seen by many as crucial to de-escalating tensions arising from the publication of the gazette showing the new amendment.
The revised version recently released by oyo state government on the 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.
The original version stated: “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, Section 4 of the amendment, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” replaced “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
The high one term governor of oyo state, a former senator and a revered politician and successful business man, High Chief Ladoja has been at loggerhead with successive Oyo
Report by Abiodun Adefarati for IbadanCity ANNOUNCER
