By Kola Adeyemi
Ibadan – The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja on Saturday said all issues causing crisis in the selection of the next Olubadan have been resolved.
Ladoja who spoke shortly after a closed door meeting between Governor Seyi Makinde and other Ibadan high chiefs said lawyers will be briefed on what to do about the two court cases filed by Chief Lekan Balogun and five other chiefs against the Oyo State government.
This is the first time Ladoja will sit down with other high chiefs to discuss the issue of selection of new Olubadan since the position became vacant following the death of Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji on January 3.
The meeting was held at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi Ibadan, at the instance of Makinde.
” With the issues now cleared, the kingmakers will, from next week, meet and present the Olubadan-elect to the governor for assent and continue other processes towards the installation of the next Olubadan.
“Ibadan is very lucky. The meeting was held in an atmosphere of conviviality. All the matters that were causing a crisis in Ibadan land have been resolved.
“The governor was very magnanimous to have held this meeting because those of us who said we were not going to meet at all finally met and we resolved all the matters.
“I can tell that by next week, you will see that there is no tension in Ibadan again,”
Ladoja said.
He told newsmen that there was no contention among the High Chiefs regarding the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun as the next in line to become Olubadan.
” None of us argued that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun is not the next Olubadan. He is the next Olubadan. All of us agreed on that because that is our hierarchy.
” Council is one and all is well.
“We have our procedure. Now that everything has been cleared, the kingmakers will meet, and then we will present the candidate to the governor for assent, ” he explained.
On the pending two cases before the court, Ladoja
said the meeting had resolved on how to sort them out.
“The resolution was simple, the only thing that was holding it up was the objection by Barrister Lana on the court case and we have resolved how we are going to sort it out. That was the only thing that was in contention,” he said.
When asked to elaborate more on what he meant by sort out, Ladoja simply replied ; “Are you the one to withdraw the case?
“It is lawyers that will go to court to withdraw the case. We will brief the lawyers. By next week, we will make all necessary moves regarding the case in court,” he explained.
Present at the meeting are the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Ashipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Abiodun Kola Daisi.
Others are Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Amidu Ajibade; Otun Balogun, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola ; Osi Balogun, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Balogun High Chief Kolawole Adegbola; Ekerin Balogun, High Chief Bunmi Isioye; Ekarun Balogun, High Chief Dauda Azeez. (vitalnews)
