The Olubadan-in-Council has revealed that Dr. Lekan Balogun may be enthroned as the Olubadan of Ibadanland before middle of March.
The Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, made this disclosure yesterday while briefing reporters after the Council’s maiden meeting held at the Alarere home of the new Ibadan monarch.
The Ibadan Festival will hold mid-March, while Ramadan Fast will begin early April.
He said the position of the Council was based on consideration for the coming Ibadan Festival and Ramadan Fast, which will hold very soon.
The meeting, he said, gave serious consideration in choosing the date for the inauguration.
Ajibola said the meeting, attended by members of the Olubadan-in-Council, except the former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja (Osi Olubadan) and Iyalode of Ibadanland, High Chief Theresa Oladuntan Oyekanmi, was to pay courtesy call on Dr. Balogun and formally congratulate him on his elevation from the position of Otun to that of Olubadan.
“Olubadan has to make a very significant presence at the annual Ibadan Week Festival and having perfected everything necessary for Dr. Balogun’s emergence, we are working to ensure that he features at the programme as the substantive Olubadan.
“Again, we are conscious of Ramadan Fast and would not want to put our guests under unnecessary pressure by holding the inauguration during the period. All these we considered at the meeting, but could not make anything categorical until we meet with Governor Seyi Makinde,” he said.”
He said that the Council resolved at the meeting that a courtesy and ‘thank-you’ visit be made to Governor Makinde for his interest and the speedy time allowed in inauguration of a new Oba for Ibadanland.
“We all visited the governor and despite that we didn’t meet him, we were well received by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, who promised to convey our message to him,” he said.
On the absence of two of the Council members, the Otun Balogun explained that Iyalode was outside Ibadan, while Sen. Ladoja sought the Council’s permission to honour a medical appointment that had been fixed previously, adding: “He was happy to join our crusade to the new Olubadan and the governor.”
Ahead of the inauguration of Dr. Balogun, High Chief Ajibola said the Council also took note of the necessary promotion and reconstitution of the Olubadan-in-Council occasioned by the elevation of the Otun to the position of Olubadan.
Arising from that, according to him, “is the upward movement of High Chief Rashidi Ladoja (Osi Olubadan) to Otun Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole (Ashipa) to Osi-Olubadan, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ekerin) to Ashipa Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade (Ekarun) to Ekerin Olubadan and the new member that will join the Council is Senior Chief Adebayo Akande from Maye to Ekarun Olubadan.”
The Olubadan designate, Dr. Balogun, presided over the meeting with High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Tajudeen Ajibola, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Kola Adegbola, Olubunmi Isioye and Dauda Agagagugu (Balogun, Otun Balogun, Osi-Balogun, Ashipa Balogun, Ekerin and Ekarun Balogun) in attendance.
Others were High Chiefs Eddy Oyewole (Ashipa Olubadan), Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ekerin Olubadan) and Hamidu Ajibade (Ekarun).
