The Otun Olubadan of Ibadaland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Sunday posited that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has no power to crown the new Olubadan of Ibadaland.
Senator Ladoja made the declaration while speaking with newsmen at his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan residence on the occasion of this year’s Eld-El-Kabir.
Ladoja, who is also a former governor of Oyo state, noted that it is the people of Ibadaland that will coronate the new Olubadan, while Governor Makinde is just to present staff and instrument of office to the new monarch.
The Otun Olubadan was reacting to a statement made by Governor Makinde during the burial ceremony of the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, last week Saturday.
The governor at the event had stated that he would coronate the new Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin when he is medically fit.
But reacting to this, Ladoja said it is the Oluwo of Ibadaland that crowns a new Olubadan and not governor .
According to him, the governor is just to present staff and instrument of office to a new Olubadan.
Ladoja said, “The Olubadan will be crowned at Ile Ose-Meji, from where he will go to Mapo for the governor to give him the staff and instrument of office.
“By the time the Olubadan is going to Mapo, he would have already been crowned by the Oluwo”.
Speaking on the health condition of the new Olubadan, Ladoja said, “To me, the new Olubadan is fit. He had been on the journey of becoming the Olubadan since 1983. The new Olubadan is fit, but only old in age”.
Ladoja, however, insisted that he is not the target of the delay in crowing of the new Olubadan, saying that he enjoys a cordial relationship with Governor Makinde.
“I am not the target of Governor Seyi Makinde. He is not delaying the coronation because of me. He sent a very big cow and many bags of rice to me for the Sallah. He had called to greet me for the festival.
“It is only God that makes kings. I believe that by God’s grace the new Olubadan will soon be crowned” he added.
