Olubadan Defends Elevation Of High Chiefs To Monarchs, As Ladoja Shuns Ceremony

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has defended the elevation of members of the Olubadan Advisory Council to monarchs.

 The monarch who spoke at the elevation of Ibadan High chiefs to beaded crown-wearing royal majesties, said “We are here to reconstruct history because, what we are doing today, as historical as it is could not be said to be novel, but the history has to be reconstructed to make it enduring and sustainable and hopefully, it shall surely be”.

 He noted that Ibadan had a very unique system in traditional set up which continues to evolve, responding to dynamics of demand as occasions might dictate, saying this had been confirming the age-long aphorism that the only thing permanent in life is change.

“In short, whatever we are today in Ibadan as far as our traditional system is concerned are products of periodic changes we have passed through and there is no shying away from making this our own contribution to the system with the conviction that posterity will record us rightly.

 “Just like the previous exercise generated controversy, our gathering here today has not been spared as well with arguments for its propriety or otherwise.

  “The fact that the issue refused to die despite the controversy that trailed it up to the point of my coronation last year means it is an idea that has some merits in it which is worthy of embrace.

“It is sad to note that our people, especially those arguing against this exercise fail to note the differences between this current approach and the previous exercise as they cynically dismissed it as a repeat of what was done before, whereas, the singular fact that, Olubadan, as the prescribed and consenting authority of Ibadan traditional system originated the today’s exercise among other changes are more than enough to change the narratives.’’

He argued that the occasion was not for a long speech to educate the public on the imperatives of ceremony, saying there is a consensus on the need for some of the Baales in Ibadanland to wear crowns and be addressed as Obas.

Meanwhile, a former governor of Oyo State, Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja was conspicuously absent when the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun elevated eleven (11) High Chiefs in the ancient city to the position of Obas.