Soji Ajibola looks at the various challenges that nearly truncate the succession bid of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, concluding that with a date now set for his installation, it is a case of ‘all’s well that that ends well’. “He had called a similar meeting that we all refused to attend but we were later made to know that we had acted contrary to the provision of the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration. Our attendance at the meeting showed that we are complying with the Declaration. “The nomination letter is with the state government. What is left now is for High Chief Ladoja to withdraw the pending case in court in order to facilitate the installation of the new Olubadan.” Speaking in the same vein, the Asipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi, had disclosed that similar scenario of litigation played itself out two years ago when the governor insisted that he would not give any approval for enthronement of new monarch until the case is withdrawn. According to him, “We had similar problem before the installation of the immediate past Kabiyesi, Late Oba Lekan Balogun. We instituted a court case against the government, because of this, the governor insisted that he would not approve the installation of the new Olubadan until the case is withdrawn. “The plaintiffs in the suit, 10 of us, came together and withdrew the case unconditionally from the court. Two years down the lane, same situation is playing itself out again. There is a case in court, not from our side but from our Otun Olubadan who has insisted that he would not join rank with us as crown wearing kings but today the matter has been resolved. The new Olubadan has been recommended. We are waiting for the approval from the government but there is a case in the court that needs to be withdrawn. “The terms of settlement as contained in the agreement paper that we are expected to sign has been overtaken by event. We are asked to sign that we will abide by the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration. We are already doing that. What are we signing again? The summary of the terms of settlement is that we are going to follow the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration in choosing another Olubadan. “What the Declaration says is that Otun Olubadan, the highest ranking on the other side will convene the meeting of the kingmakers. He called the meeting the first time but we refused to attend because our status are different. But we realized that we have acted outside the Declaration as we later complied with his directives.” In spite of their disagreement, Ladoja eventually withdrew the case but another matter cropped up which is the health status of Oba Olakulehin. Some members of the group argued that Olakulehin was not fit to be enthroned as the next Olubadan. Their argument was corroborated by Governor Makinde at the final funeral rite of the late Oba Balogun when he said, he has received the nomination of Oba Olakulehin but he would be installed when he is strong as the next Olubadan. But such a position was faulted by Ladoja as he argued that “It is the town that crowns Olubadan, not the governor. The person that is saddled with that responsibility is the Oluwo of Ibadanland. “If the governor had said that ‘I am going to give him Staff of office and instrument of office when I know that he is well enough’, I can concede to that one. “If you are not in government, you might not know what is going on. The governor might have sent doctor to go and assess the medical status of Baba. The governor might have had access to his medical records. The governor might have used an Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assess him. “I can concede to that if he believes that he is not fit enough to be presented a Staff of Office and Instrument of Office. But as far as I am concerned, he is our own Olubadan of Ibadanland. “I am the head of the kingmakers, (Afobaje) of Ibadanland today. I called a meeting for the selection process of the new king. The governor confirmed that we followed due process and that he has accepted our recommendation and that he has even approved it. “With this, there is nothing stopping Olakulehin from being crowned as the next Olubadan. The only thing that may stop him now is non-presentation of staff of office and instrument of office which is the property of the government. “But the question of whether he is medically fit or not is left for the people of Ibadanland to determine. We have not faced this kind of situation before, but as it is now there is need to differentiate between the role of the government and that of the people. “The role of the government is to present the Staff of Office and Instrument of Office to the new monarch. The governor is not there when the Oluwo of Ibadanland is performing the installation rites. There is a laid down process. Olubadan designate spends 15 days in seclusion traditionally known as Ipebi after which he will proceed to Oluwo for the presentation of crown. “The process is rounded off with the presentation of Staff of Office and Instrument of Office by the governor,” Ladoja had explained. A few days after, the immediate past Commissioner for Local government, Segun Olayiwola in a statement confirmed the approval of Oba Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland. But whatever misgiving Ibadan indigenes may have about the delay has finally ended. On Friday, June 28, 2024, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, announced that the Oyo State governor will present Staff of Office to Oba Owolabi Olakunlehin on July 12, 2024. Oyelade, while admonishing the public and dismissing the insinuations that Makinde’s action was targeting a particular person, urged them to “learn to be patient and believe an administration that has not let them down in five years.” He promised that people of Oyo State and Ibadan in particular would witness a spectacular coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, July 12. ALSO READ: Content creators in Nigeria now eligible for Facebook monetisation Source: