The Otun Olubadan, of Ibadan land, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja has accepted to wear the beaded crown recommended to the high Chiefs in Ibadan land.
High Chief Ladoja, who is also former Governor of Oyo State,, and most senior in rank in Olubadan line, Stated his intentions on Sunday, while on a radio interview program in IBADAN said, , his wish to accept the honorary crown based on plead, persuasion, consultation and support rallied round him by Ibadan indigene both home and abroad, including lots of highly calibres of none Ibadan indigene residence, both in Oyo state and outside the State.
He said, ” There were several meetings and consultations, from Ibadan Mogajis, religious and traditional leaders, which include Prelate Sunday Makinde, Chief Imam of Ibadan, sheik Agbotomokekere, Araba and Oluwo of Ibadan land, who pleaded and assured me that the crown is mere honorary crown to honour the high Chiefs and noting traditional or evil will happen, once they did not observed all traditional rites of Ipebi, calabash rites and visitation to Ose- Meji’s house.
High Chief Ladoja added that, once he has being given assurance and satisfied that wearing of the crown is just in an honorary status, and clear different from real Olubadan crown which he is willing to wear, by the grace of God and overwhelming support of Ibadan indigene, as testified to by the reaction of the people of Ibadan, when the issue of gazette broke out during the installation of New Olubadan , Oba Olakulehin, that he willingly accept to obey the call of majority to accept wearing of the crown, in an honorary level and he is ready whenever Olubadan deem it fit to do the crowning ceremony for him, and by the grace of God, which has been so kind and merciful to me, I will become Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Otun Olubadan, Rasidi Ladoja who became Jagun Olubadan in Oct 1st 1993, during the reign of Olubadan, Oba Ashanike from Idi Aro. thereby progressing on the Ibadan chieftaincy ladder to the top rank of Otun Olubadan, said further that in a democratic setting majority, usually have their way, while minority only have a say, ” I will follow the part of majority calling on me to accept the crown, to allow peace reign in the land, and if that is what they want, the voice of the people is the voice of God, i av accepted, even though I always toiled the part of due process and legality, but this is “Bosegba” the way people want it, but not that I Sacrificed my Principle for Principality, but for peace to reign supreme in our Land”. He emphasized.
This move is seen by many as crucial to de-escalating tensions arising from the publication of the gazette showing the new amendment.
The Oyo State government, in the revised Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, passed by the state House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde, amended Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration which read in part “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.” h
However in the new revised gazette “Section 4 of the amendment, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” replaced “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
Stated that “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
The reform of Olubadan Chieftaincy system was first initiated by Former governor, Late Senator Ajimobi, who upgraded the status of the Eleven high Chiefs in Ibadan, to beaded crown Oba, with installation of Twenty – one Obas in one day at Mapo hall, Ibadan.