The maiden meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council scheduled to hold on Monday, August 5, 2024 at the new ultramodern palace has been postponed to until after the relocation of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to the palace.
An inside source said the meeting was to ratify a date for the presentation of beaded crown to the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja who only on Sunday publicly accepted to wear the ceremonial beaded crown.
Ladoja, a former Oyo State governor and next in line to become the next Olubadan after the incumbent, bowed to public opinions in accepting the beaded crown to pave the way for his becoming the Olubadan as contained in the amendment to the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957.
“The meeting is expected to ratify the date for the presentation of the ceremonial beaded crown to the former governor of the state and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja,” a palace source told The PUNCH.
The meeting to ratify the date was however put on hold as Oba Olakulehin decided not to receive visitors at his private residence as he prepares to relocate to the new palace at Oke Aremo on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
The massive new edifice facilitated by prominent Ibadan indigenes located in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State was on July 10, 2024 commissioned by the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The Oke Aremo Palace replaced the abandoned one at Oja’ba which was last occupied by the late Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike whose reign spanned between 1983 and 1993.
Successive Olubadans after Oba Asanike, including the 42nd Olubadan, the late Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun reigned from their private abodes.
The incumbent Oba Olakuleyin who officially mounted the saddle as Olubadan following his coronation on July 12, continued to reside in his private residence at the Alalubosa Government Reserved Area (GRA) of the city.
Oba Olakulehin chose to suspend all official functions until the thanksgiving service to thank God for his coronation which was held on Sunday at the St Peters Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan.
“Kabiyesi Olakulehin had since said he would not receive any visitor until he moves to the new palace. Not only that, he would not relocate until he had the thanksgiving service to praise God for his coronation. With that done on Sunday, the Olubadan will move to the ultramodern palace on Wednesday.”
Another source confirmed the relocation plan scheduled for Wednesday, saying it was “resolved after the thanksgiving church service at Aremo that Kabiyesi should move to the new palace where he is expected to carry out the official functions, as enshrined in the 1957 Chieftaincy Law (as amended).”
