Ex-Governor Ladoja reveals next Olubadan, mourns Lekan Balogun

Rashidi Ladoja, the former governor of Oyo state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, on Friday, March 15, said that the people of Ibadan are already aware of who will succeed Oba Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Following a private meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council convened at the Alalubosa residence of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Ibadan chief affirmed that the city has already designated its next Olubadan, leaving no room for doubt.

He said: “The Departed monarch (Oba Balogun) came from the Otun line. The next monarch will be from the Balogun line, so the head of the Balogun line is the Balogun of Ibadanland, who has become the Olubadan designate.

"We all know that Ibadan does things accordingly, if a king dies, we already know who is next, we refer to him as designate.

“We are here to formalize what is next after the burial rite of the deceased has been completed. We also discussed how to give a befitting burial to the deceased.

“Since the deceased is a Muslim, he has to be buried in the Islamic way, and the Islamic way is that he has to be buried today, so it has been decided that he will be buried today at Aliwo, which is his ancestral home, by 4 pm today.

“There will be a lying-in-state at Mapo hall from 12 pm to 1 pm before they move to Aliwo for burial. After that, there will be a prayer for the monarch

“There is no date yet for the coronation of the new Olubadan, but the date shall be announced as soon as the burial rite for the deceased is completed.”