The new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1, risks removal from office if the 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration is to be implemented, NewsNow authoritatively gathered.
It could be recalled that Olakulehin was crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, 12th July, 2024.
The event was attended by Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Military Administrator of old Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola and former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
Governors of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olaide Adelami, while Governor of Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde, among others.
Our correspondent reports that the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023 was distributed during the coronation.
NewsNow, however, observed that the new Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, which was signed by governor Seyi Makinde, is at variance with some sections of the 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
The 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration stated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line.
The declaration also stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the candidate.
The 1957 declaration says, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line. Provided that the most Senior Chief in that line may be superseded by a Junior Chief if such senior chief is found to be disqualified as a candidate under the provisions of section 10(2).”
It further provided that:- (a) The field of selection for the purpose of the foregoing provision shall not extend beyond the Ekerin Olubadan on the Olubadan line and the Ekerin Balogun on the Balogun Line.
“The method of selection is as follows: The line whose turn it is to present a Candidate shall nominate a Candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.”
But, the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023, which was made public on Friday, recognised the beaded crown Obas instead of High Chiefs which was in the 1957 declaration.
The new law stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate. The kingmakers shall, if satisfied as to the candidate’s right of succession, declare the candidate appointed.
Similarly, the new law stipulated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate and that majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.
The new law says that, “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a Candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.
“The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate; majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.”
NewsNow reports that whereas the new law says that the person proposed to be Olubadan must be nominated at a meeting presided over by the most senior beaded crown Oba, Olakulehin was nominated at a meeting presided over by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja on Friday, 12th April, 2024.
Ladoja, a former governor of the state is a High Chief and not a beaded crown Oba.
He is the only High Chief in Ibadan that refused to wear the beaded crown.
It follows that what transpired during the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated was at variance with the 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
