A new blanket of confusion is spreading over the succession process of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, as suspicion is thickening that Olubadan-in-Council members may boycott the meeting slated for tomorrow during which Oba Owolabi Olakulehin is expected to be pronounced the Olubadan-designate.
The suspicion Oba Olakulehin’s absence has been spreading among stakeholders since Oba Lekan Balogun’s passage on March 14.
The process of selecting the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland to fill the vacant stool suffered a setback as the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Abimbola Ajibola, yesterday, distanced himself from other kingmakers who endorsed the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Addressing newsmen at his Sanyo residence in Ibadan, Oba Ajibola, one of the kingmakers, said Oba Olakulehin is not fit to assume the throne as a result of his age-related ailments.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, late Oba Olalekan Balogun Alli Okunmade 11 died on March 14, 2024, and since then it has been a ding-dong affair to nominate a new Olubadan.
But the Otun Balogun of Ibadan insisted that the Olubadan-designate is just being forced by some people to fill the vacant stool.
Four members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who are the kingmakers of the Ibadan Traditional Council, had visited Oba Olakulehin at his Alalubosa residence penultimate Friday to see him physically and one of them said the ailing next in hierarchy to the Olubadan stool was hale and hearty.
But, contradicting the earlier position of the kingmakers who visited Oba Olakulehin, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland said: “Has anybody seen him since last Friday? Those who went there after Friday were unable to see him. They are forcing this man. We should allow him to get well. I won’t support illegality.
