Ibadan council chiefs end controversy, endorse Balogun as Olubadan-elect

Ibadan kingmakers also known as the Olubadan-in-Council, comprised of Ibadan High-Chiefs, yesterday announced the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

They made the announcement after a closed door meeting with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital.

The Osi Olubadan and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the council, said that perceived controversy surrounding ascension to the Olubadan stool had been amicably resolved.

Ladoja said the Ibadan High Chiefs had met with the governor and agreed to the resolution that Balogun, who is next in line to the stool, remained the authentic candidate.

He said, “I can tell you that Ibadan is very lucky. All the matters causing a crisis in Ibadanland have been resolved. The governor has been magnanimous to have called this meeting because those of us who thought we won’t meet again have finally met and resolved all the matters. So, I can tell you that, by next week, you won’t notice any tension in Ibadan again.

“The resolution is simple and the only contention was the objection by Barrister Lana on the court case and it has been resolved. None of us argued that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Balogun, is not the next Olubadan. All of us have agreed on that position because that is our hierarchy.

“Before the resolution could be announced, we have our procedure. The Olubadan-in-Council will meet and we will present the candidate to the governor for assent.

“Now, we are very happy that we have resolved the problem and we are all grateful to the governor.”