• Alleges plot to stop him from ascending Olubadan throne
A former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has taken the state governor, Seyi Makinde; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, and 10 members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who were recently elevated to Obas, to court over chieftaincy review.
In a suit filed before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, Ladoja also joined the newly-elevated Obas as defendants.
He sued the governor and others barely a week after the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Lekan Balogun elevated and crowned ten out of the 11 members of his Olubadan-in-Council as obas.
In his statement of claim, Ladoja alleged that the Olubadan was plotting that “if he refused to be crowned, he would be denied his status as Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and would not be permitted to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland when it is his turn.”
Consequently, the former governor is seeking a declaration, among others, that “any report issued or to be issued on the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration of the Olubadan of Ibadanland and or the issue of the beaded crown is unconstitutional, contrary to the Chiefs Law, ultra vires, null and void.”
While the Olubadan is the 1st Defendant, the ten elevated Obas are the 2nd to 11th Defendants, Makinde is the 12th, and the Attorney General is the 13th Defendant.
Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, was supposed to benefit from the gesture but did not show up for the coronation.
He did the same during former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration when the High Chiefs were presented with beaded crowns.
The Olubadan, on Friday, July 7 at Mapo Hall, Ibadan presented crowns to the elevated High Chiefs.
But, Ladoja in his prayers before the court, is suspecting the Olubadan of plotting to stop him from becoming the Olubadan when it gets to his turn with his refusal to be crowned with other High Chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council.
He also said the decision of Olubadan to elevate the High Chiefs to Obas is contrary to Oyo State of Nigeria Gazette No. 03 Vol 47 dated 11 February 2022 as well as against the tenor of judgment in M/317/2017 between High Chief (Senator) Rashidi Ladoja Vs The Governor of Oyo State and Others delivered on the 19th day of November 2019.
Makinde, who was at the event as a guest, presented the staff and instrument of office to the new Obas.
According to the court papers, Ladoja wants the court to make a declaration that “traditionally, it is the only Olubadan of Ibadanland that can crown in Ibadanland.
“That the Olubadan is lacking in power to unilaterally elevate the ten High Chiefs to the status of His Royal Majesty in Ibadanland without the approval of the 12th Defendant.
“That the High Chiefs who are now being elevated to the status of His Royal Majesty cannot vie for the throne of Olubadan, as they are no longer Chiefs of Olubadan.
“An Order of this Honourable court restraining the Defendants from preventing the claimant (Ladoja) from ascending the throne of Olubadan when it is his turn.”
Makinde approved the elevation of the Ibadan High Chiefs to Obas following Olubadan’s recommendation.
It will also be recalled that the governor last Friday presented the Staff of Office to the new Obas.
The new Obas are Owolabi Olakulehin; Tajudeen Ajibola; Eddy Oyewole; Lateef Adebimpe; Biodun Kola-Daisi; Kola Adegbola; Hamidu Ajibade; Olubunmi Isioye; Bayo Akande and Abiodun Azeez.
Ladoja, who is also an Ibadan high chief, had earlier rejected the elevation and was absent from the crowning ceremony.
The former Oyo governor explained that he was only interested in becoming Olubadan.
“I’m not interested in any other crown apart from that of Olubadan of Ibadanland. And every one of us knows that it’s God that chooses Oba in Ibadan,” he said.
Ladoja had also had a running legal battle with Makinde’s predecessor, the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, who had also elevated some chiefs and baales to Obas in 2017.
Ladoja won the court case, which dragged into Makinde’s first term.
Makinde, however, chose not to appeal the case, while the high chiefs dropped their crown, paving the way for the emergence of the present Olubadan.
