APC lawmaker, Akin Alabi reveals next Olubadan

The successor to the late Oba Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan of Ibadan is not going to be former Governor Adewolu Ladoja, Oloye Akin Alabi, the lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara federal constituency in Oyo state has said.

Oloye Alabi made this known in a tweet in response to claims by former presidential aide Tolu Ogunlesi who has said Governor Ladoja was in line to become Olubadan because of the existing tradition in the largest city.

Alabi in the tweet said the next Olubadan will be High Chief Owolabi Olakukehin. He said Olakukehin is next in line according to the existing tradition.

This is because elevation and succession to becoming Olubadan is by promotion and not purely hereditary like others.

The lawmaker's comment was in line with the amended Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration on February 11, 2022; the verdict of the Oyo state high court on February 1 and 10, 2022, and sections 7, 20, 26 and 30 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo state 2000

This is because the above-recognized two ruling lines to the emergence of the Olubadan. One is the Egbe Agba (civil), while the second is the Balogun line, which is military. The occupiers of the Olubadan seat are appointed from the two lines rotationally after the death of each Olubadan.

The law stated that the next Olubadan would be Otun Olubadan or Balogun. Olakukehin is the current Balogun of Ibadanland and the military head in the line of the Olubadan chieftaincy system.

The death of Oba Balogun would be a major shift in the leadership of the Olubadan Hierarchy because the late monarch was from the Egbe Agba, which is civil, and the power will shift to the Balogun.

The deceased Olubadan was the Otun Olubadan when his predecessor, Oba Saliu Adetunji, died Jan 2, 2022

Current Otun Olubadan is former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja.

Will Ladoja be the next Olubadan? The first person to occupy Governorship & Olubadan offices? https://t.co/7HQRHDKHU1

— Tolu Ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) March 14, 2024