The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja has challenged the competence of the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola to determine the medical fitness of the Olubadan designate Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Oba Ajibola had at a press conference held in Ibadan on Tuesday said Olubadan-designate, Oba Olakulehin is not medically fit for now to be enthroned and thereby appealed to the stakeholders to give Olakulehin more time.
Oba Ajibola’s position on the medical status of Oba Olakulehin is in contrast with the position of Oba Lateef Adebimpe who after paying homage to him in his Alalubosa GRA, Ibadan declared that he is hale, hearty and fit for the throne.
However, High Chief Ladoja submitted that in as much Oba Ajibola has the right to his opinion he is not in a position to certify whether Oba Olakulehin is medically fit for the throne or not, noting that he is not a medical doctor.
According to him, ‘There was a video that has gone viral where Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe addressed journalists in “Baba’ house’s and confirmed that he is hale and hearty after seeing him
“If one says that he is not well and the other one says that he is well. You can see that everybody has given his opinion.
“However none of them is a doctor. The man we are talking about is not 50 years, not 60 years. He is over 80 years old. You don’t expect him to run as fast as an 80-year-old man.
“Otun Balogun is not in the best position to determine his medical fitness. He is not a medical doctor. It is an opinion. You can add your own as well.
“The matter will be resolved at tomorrow’s meeting which is expected to have in attendance all the kingmakers including Oba Ajibola.
Ladoja disclosed that the meeting which was earlier fixed for Thursday has been shifted to Friday because of the Eid-fitri public holiday.
He said that all the kingmakers have been duly notified of the shift in date till Friday.
Ladoja, however, stated in a situation where any of the kingmakers is not in attendance after being duly notified another person can take over his responsibility at the meeting l.
Otun Olubadan stated this in response to a question that if Otun Olubadan who is expected to nominate the next monarch fails to attend the meeting what will happen
It will be noted that Oba Ajibola is next to Oba Olakulehin on the warrior’s line and the responsibility is on him to nominate Oba Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Ladoja said the 1957 Declaration makes provision for substitution. He can be substituted. If he is sick anybody can be sick. If he doesn’t come to the meeting that he has been invited to attend. There is even a provision for multiple nominations in the Declaration.
In another development, Ladoja has attributed his decision to institute a case against members of Olubadan in Council to a threat to his kingship ambition.
According to him, “What brought the case is their threat to my ambition. They said Ladoja has not taken the crown when it comes to his turn to be nominated as Olubadan we will look the other way.
If they drop their threat, I will drop my own. It is not a question of saying Ladoja is in Court. What for?
I did not go to the Court because they took the crown. It is because they threatened me
I did not take the Baales to Court because I know their territory. If you say you
are Onijaiye, we know where Ijaiye is.
I am Otun Olubadan. The whole of Ibadan is my territory. The crown is a way of enhancing the prestige of the person that wears it”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune