The coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan has suffered a setback as the lingering crisis between the crown-wearing high chiefs and former governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has taken a new dimension.
It was gathered that the crown-wearing high chiefs have vowed not to sign the terms of agreement for the withdrawal of case in court against the Ibadan chieftaincy review done by the incumbent administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The chiefs, who were defendants in the suit, made the declaration after a meeting held at the Oja’Oba Palace.
Speaking after the meeting, the Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe, said events have overtaken the terms of reference contained in the agreement, adding that they have decided not to sign any agreement any longer.
The monarch, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues (high chiefs) that attended the meeting, said that they have resolved to comply with the 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, which empowers the most senior high chief, who is Ladoja, to convene Olubadan-in-Council meeting.
“We have gone through it and discovered that the terms of settlement have been met, which is strict compliance with the 1957 chieftaincy declaration.
“We realised that our actions and deeds must be in accordance with the 1957 chieftaincy declaration. That is why we honoured his (Ladoja) invitation for a meeting for the nomination of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan land.
“He had called a similar meeting that we all refused to attend, but we were later made to understand that we had acted contrary to the provision of the 1957 Chieftaincy declaration.
“Our attendance at the meeting showed that we are complying with the declaration.
“The nomination letter is with the state government, what is left now is for High Chief Ladoja to withdraw the pending case in court in order to facilitate the installation of the new Olubadan,” he said.
Also, the Asipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, said that similar scenario played out two years ago when the governor insisted that he would not approve the enthronement of a new monarch until the case in court had been withdrawn.
“We had similar problems before the installation of the immediate past Kabiyesi, late Oba Lekan Balogun. We instituted a court case against the government,” he said.
